CRAZY STUPID LOVE: A Movie Review

For those who haven't seen the movie yet, do not proceed. I repeat, do not proceed. There is a lot of movie spoilers ahead and I don't wan't to feel responsible for ruining your movie experience.


All clear? Here we go.


I heard so much hype about the movie, CRAZY STUPID LOVE from twitter and some of my friends who have seen it. So I feel the sudden itch to watch the movie. 


Yesterday was a local holiday. Charter Day here in Iloilo City. Happy Birthday Iloilo City! It was a perfect chance for me and my bf to watch the movie. Yey!

 This movie is an all-star cast. You have Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei and Kevin Bacon. My expectations are very high. But I guess that is the problem when you set up the bar too high, you expect too much that what it really is. So a great 30 to 45 minutes of the movie, I was waiting for it to blow me away. It didn't. IT also did't help that I came to the cinema with no scratchy clue of the storyline. I thought it was going to be a laugh-out loud-slap-on-my-knee comedy with a romantic theme because of course I expected a lot from Steve Carell and judging from the movie poster. It didn't come. But don't dismay, the good news is the blow-me-away parts happened after the 30 to 45 minutes or so.


The 1st scene of the movie have Steve Carell & Julianne Moore in it with Julianne bursting out in a restaurant that she wants a divorce. Next was with this scene of babysitter and Steve & Julianne's kids at home. I said, "I have seen this babysitter before". The whole time, my brain was racking out where I have seen her. She reminds me  a lot like Michelle Trachtenberg of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. But she is definitely not Michelle Trachtenberg. Michelle is much prettier and sophisticated. But this new girl is way too tall and very skinny. But i am amazed how this unknown starlet fit right in with these seasoned actors. She played her part as a 17 year old babysitter who is the object of desire of Steve & Julianne's 13 year old son that is hopelessly in love with Steve Carell's character, perfectly. She shines on screen. She is not the typical pretty girl but she is infectiously charming. She played her part to a T. Towards the end of the movie, on our way out of the cinema, I realized, OMG, the new "ÏT" girl is Analeigh from the America's Next Top Model Cycle  I love her! She was one of my favorite. 

When she was In ANTM

In America's Next Model Cycle 11, she was introduced as the hippie Analeigh who used to be in competitive  skating competition and was almost sold as a bride in Saudi Arabia, thinking it was a modeling contract or something like that.

Analeigh in a photo still in the movie CRAZY STUPID LOVE

There are two twists in the movie that I liked:

•  The part when Steve Carell and Julianne Moore came in to a teacher-parents meeting. Steve was so shock to see Marisa Tomei as his son's teacher,  the very 1st person he slept with after the divorce and he didnt bother to call her back. Marisa Tomei was hilariously funny as the neurotic, recovering alcohol teacher. She was crazy! Hahaha!

• The part when all the things came to place and everyone found out that Emma Stone is Steve & Julianne's daughter who is dating the (former) playboy, Ryan Gosling's character, who helped Steve Carell during his divorce to be more slick and like him- a lady's man. So, Steve was very unhappy of this new love of his daugher and former friend. 

*For those who hasn't watch this movie, and still kept on reading even if I warned. You might say, what the heck am I talking about. I say, I told you so.....

Tearjerker moments:

• The part when Julianne called Steve while Steve was hiding behind a tree becuase he secretly takes care of the garden at night even if he doesn't anymore stays at their home. She calls him and pretend that she was in the basement when in fact she isn't and Steve knows she isn't. She was pretending to be asking him a domestic chore Steve always does at home. You could tell that she misses him. Those mundane things or people we take for granted, is magnified when it or they are gone. The things like just being there when the family are having evening ice cream cravings or being the reliable person in charge of turning on the furnace.

• The part when the class salutatorian, Steve's son was in his elementary graduation and Steve interrupted him and made a speech of his own. He said that he loves his soulmate (Julianne Moore) eversince their 1st date when they were 15, even the time she said that she cheated, even when they were away from each other, even when he hates her, he still loves him.He was quick to add that only married couples understand this- referring to his last statement.

* I was holding back tears but I want pretend I can be strong enough in tearjerker scenes like above comes up.  

NOTE-WORTHY SCENES:

• When Ryan Gosling was naked in front of Steve Carell and his crotch is in front of Steve. That was hilarious!

• When Ryan Gosling again was naked (yes, he gets naked a lot and I don't blame him) in front of Emma Stone and Emma screamed that his body is photoshop. Hahaha! Is it?

• The singer Josh Groban has a cameo here as Emma Stone's pompous lawyer boyfriend. He has been playing sleazebag roles lately (re. role in Glee).

• I like that Steve describe his wife in the movie as a combination of sexy and cute. (Which he strategically used with Marisa Tomei's character so he can sleep with her). It's funny because it is a nice description of a marry-able girl. It was also a perfect description of Emma Stone's character. Like mother, like daughter, right? No wonder the unforgiving lady's man, Ryan Gosling's character fell for her.

• Ok, ok. Everyone things Ryan Gosling was so hot in this movie. Don't throw your popcorn box towards me if I say, I don't. He is too Scott Disick-y in the movie. And he looks like he been using spraying tan way too much. 

• Kevin Bacon is hotter, hehe....

• The 13 year old son was adorable. He was wise beyond his years. And I bet if the movie has a sequel, he will definitely end up with his babysitter. hehe....

Moral Lesson of the Movie:

After every movie we watch when we were younger my mother would always discuss to us the moral lesson of the story.

The central them of the movie was simply never giving up on your soulmate. Or better yet, never give up on love. The 13 year old son is the principal advocate of fighting for your love. Once you find it, never let it go. Love has a lot of phases and seasons. But it will survive these storms and winds as long as you believe in your love for each other. It true what what Steve said that you love someone even if sometimes they get pisses off at each other at the same time. Love is funny like that. Yes,love could be crazy... And often times, we say love is stupid. But once you feel that love, the real love that is so beautiful it makes your heart ache, you know that will all its craziness and stupidity, it all worth it,  because love makes life worth living. And once you found it, you hold on to it and never ever let go.....

Love is crazy...stupid... undeniable beautiful....