Crazy, Stupid, Love.

          So far on this blog I think it's safe to say that I have reviewed a fair amount of romantic comedies, especially lately. But then again, I think that term is thrown around too loosely sometimes, or used too technically. I've done it myself. For example, when you talk about Wedding Crashers are you saying its a comedy or a romantic comedy. My bet is most people say comedy. I do, but if you wanted to get technical you should label it the latter. Any who, my point is that when the term romantic comedy is used, most people expect some cheap, cheesy, gimmicky movie starring Hugh Grant or Katherine Heigl, that in all honesty is probably a chick flick. However, every now and then a movie comes along that fits the title of its genre, but does not go by its specifications. Crazy, Stupid, Love is one of those.
           Crazy, Stupid, Love is about....well...love. DUH! It's about first loves, lost loves, new loves, and everything in between. This movie follows many different people that all become connected in some way, but mainly around Cal and Emily Weaver, played by Steve Carell (Despicable Me) and Julianne Moore (Chloe). They're married high school sweet hearts and the movie opens on them at dinner. It's quite obvious the two have fell in a rut, but no more than a couple minutes into the movie does Emily drop a bombshell. She wants a divorce and has slept with a coworker named David Lindhagen, played by Kevin Bacon (X-Men: First Class).
          At this point Cal is quite depressed as expected, and begins going to the same bar every night where he drinks heavily and complains about his life. Here he meets womanizing, smooth talking, playboy Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling of All Good Things) who vows to take Cal under his wing and show him how to pick up women and get him over his ex-wife. All the while, Jacob had his advances spurned just a tad earlier in the film by an attractive young woman named Hannah (Emma Stone of Easy A) who seemed to have really caught his eye. From here we watch as Jacob helps transform and revitalize Cal into a new found image and persona. But through it all Cal still suffers as he goes through his divorce and deals with not only his longing love for Emily, but his son's love issues as well.
          Though this story focuses centrally around Cal and Emily and their relationship, everyone else involved has their own love and relationship to figure out too. It's how all of these people intertwine with each other and connect in some way that makes this story so good. It's really quite clever how the writers were able to put it all together and that just adds onto how funny the movie is. The trailer is loaded with laughs, but those aren't the only ones in there. Steve Carell is hilarious as usual and Ryan Gosling portrays his character perfectly. It's an all around great effort by a superb ensemble cast and everyone gets in on the laughs. Though my favorite line might be one by Cal midway through the movie, where right as you think the movie is falling into a gimmicky cliche, he drops a line that totally calls the movie on it and makes fun of itself; and as you all know I love when a film is able to do that.
           In reference to the ensemble cast, I do not want to leave out Marisa Tomei (The Lincoln Lawyer) and Kevin Bacon's characters. Though not seen much, they both make the most out their short screen time. Tomei is hysterical and perfect as a slightly crazy hookup of Cal's that comes back to haunt him, and Bacon is funny as Emily's moving to fast boyfriend who is quite frankly, just a douche.
          Overall, this movie had everything one good ask for. It appeals to a mass audience and both genders. It's funny, touching, clever, and provides a few unexpected twists to keep the viewer quite entertained. Plus, it's not overly long with running time of 1 hour and 58 minutes.
           I give this movie a thumbs up and 3.5 out of 4 stars. If you haven't seen it, do so. It's a great date movie. If you have seen it, see it again. Heck, I'll probably go buy it. As you could guess this movie is out on DVD and Blu-Ray and is also available at your local Redbox. Enjoy!

Editor's Note:  As I said in my previous post from this point until the Oscars I will be more than likely only posting reviews of Best Picture nominated films, though who knows something else could slip in. My next review will be on the nominated Woody Allen film Midnight in Paris, starring Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams.

Easy A

          Ah the classic teen comedy. It usually centers around high school and all of the troubles that come with it. Are you popular or a geek? Do you have sex or are you a virgin? Blah blah blah. We all know this. Most of us have seen plenty of teen comedies that we never need to see anymore ever again. The thing that makes some of these movies classics or better than others, is of course the writing and how funny it can be, but that also usually centers around a fresh take on the same old story lines. The movie Easy A does precisely this.
          In Easy A, Emma Stone (Superbad, Zombieland) plays Olive, a smart, average, middle of the pack high schooler. That is until a little white lie that she tells her best friend gets spread across the entire school like wild fire. That lie is that she has had sex and from this point on her life begins to mirror that off the main character in the book "The Scarlett Letter," which she happens to be studying in school.
           Discouraged by this at first, as she begins to be judged and discriminated against by everyone in school, Olive decides to make the best of the situation. She begins to use the school rumor mill to propel her social and financial standing within the school. As always, this doesn't come without its own set of consequences that Olive must deal with.
            As usual with these type of movies there are the secondary story lines of romantic relationships, friendships, and other moral dilemmas that come our way in high school. Though this movie is aimed towards girls it doesn't trap itself in that mindset as all of the jokes and innuendos can be appreciated by all, especially by any one who has ever been to high school.
           Though Emma Stone does a great job in this role, the supporting cast cannot be overlooked. Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones) and Patricia Clarkson (Shutter Island, The Green Mile) do a great job as Olive's laid back trusting parents. Then there is Amanda Bynes (What A Girl Wants, Hairspray) who is perfect as the highly religious over the top goody-goody. Throw in Thomas Haden Church (Sideways) and Lisa Kudrow (Friends) as the married school faculty that affect Olive's life and it's quite the ensemble supporting cast.
           Easy A is an easy going teen comedy that has plenty of laughs and is a fun watch at anytime. It doesn't try to be something its not and that's what makes it work. Like I said above, even though it is aimed toward a more female audience it doesn't come out that way, so I recommend this movie to all looking for a good laugh. I give this movie a thumbs up and 3 out of 4 stars. Enjoy!

My next review will be on the movie Kick-Ass starring Nicholas Cage so look forward to that.