I don’t quite get the title of “Crazy, Stupid, Love.” All the words make sense. But what is that second comma doing there? Without it, the phrase is a clear declaration of the insanity of romance — an insanity almost none of us is quite sane without. I certainly get the movie “Crazy, Stupid, Love,” though. You might say it’s an argument for the pleasures of monogamy, once the delights of playing the field have worn off. But describing the film that way misses the subtlety of this comedy, one that’s sweet without being cloying, as too many romcoms are.
Steve Carell is Cal, a happily married middle-age guy. At least until his wife, Emily (Julianne Moore), announces that she’s cheated on him and demands a divorce. The undone Cal spends his evenings at a local watering hole, telling no one in particular about his betrayal, night after night.
| ON SCREEN |
| ‘Crazy, Stupid, Love’ |
| » Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars |
| » Stars: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone |
| » Directors: Glenn Ficarra and John Requa |
| » Rated: PG-13 for coarse humor, sexual content and language |
| » Running time: 118 minutes |
Jacob (Ryan Gosling) has finally had enough. He’s a smooth player who takes home a different woman every night, and he’s tired of watching another guy lose his manhood before his very eyes. “I don’t know whether I should help you or euthanize you,” he says. He takes Cal under his wing, finding him a new wardrobe, a new hairstylist and a new perspective. Soon Cal is almost as cool as Jacob, bedding women like the oversexed Kate (Marisa Tomei). Yet even after a string of beautiful young women, he can’t forget his high school sweetheart, who’s now seeing good-looking accountant David (Kevin Bacon). Meanwhile, Jacob — the guy who declares of his gender, “We won the second they started pole dancing for exercise” — finds himself thinking about the one woman (Emma Stone) who didn’t fall prey to his game.
These players are all great: Little needs to be said about Carell and Moore, two pros who share some unexpected chemistry, while Gosling is as slick as the character he plays. Even the supporting characters add another level to the film. Singer Josh Groban has a small but important part as Stone’s sort-of boyfriend, described succinctly by her friend as “that human Valium Richard.”
“Crazy, Stupid, Love” has a surprisingly mature script: It’s written by Dan Fogelman, who’s specialized in animated fare such as the simply titled “Cars,” “Bolt,” and “Tangled.” He understands that love can make us do crazy, stupid things — and also that love can make us better people. But the film wears its lessons lightly, letting them sneak in amid the mirth. What is love, after all, if it doesn’t include the ability to connect with just a laugh?
