Crazy Stupid Love

Plot

40’s something Cal’s world is turned upside down, when his wife of over 20 years tells him one night she wants a divorce following an affair.

He spirals, and starts to frequent bars – telling his heartache, when he meets 20 something Jacob, a handsome and charismatic ladies man. Jacob takes Cal ‘under his wing’ to help “re-brand” him.

Soon, Cal is ‘out there’ while Jacob, has met the lovely Hannah – who has broken his spell of ‘one nighters’

Will Hannah be the one to truly make Jacob happy? And will Cal find happiness again after such heartbreak??

Direction/Cinematography

Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, with cinematography by Andrew Dunn. It was written by Dan Fogelman.

Cast/Characters

Steve Carrell plays Cal, who was in his Office heyday at the time. He was often able to break away from his Michael Scott persona, and here he is a little too close to the Dundler Mifflin boss.

Julianne Moore plays Emily. She is always solid in everything she does and here is no exception.

Emma Stone plays Hannah, who ‘tames’ the ladies man Jacob.

Ryan Gosling plays Jacob. He and Stone are perfectly suited together and would go on to star in La La Land together half a decade later.

Jonah Bobo is really the star of the film as Robbie, Cal and Emily’s son – who is the glue that holds not only the family – but the screenplay together. He has great scenes with almost all the cast.

Other important cast members are; Marissa Tomei (as Kate – one of Cal’s one “nighters, and Robbie’s teacher!), Lio Tipton (as Jessica, the object of Robbie’s affection, but she’s in love with Cal!), and Kevin Bacon (as David Lindhagen… or is it Lindhagen?).

Breakdown

The “character starting over cliche” has been done to death, but what helps this one is the on screen chemistry by the cast. Carrell brings across his charm (and a slight Michael Scott), and he plays across the always brilliant Ryan Gosling with ease. There is also a clever moment within that even Cal says is cliche (when it rains on him).

An issue i did have was that there didn’t seem to be enough of Hannah. Her scenes are added in bits and pieces, feeling almost like a tertiary character, and although she meets Jacob early in the film – their eventually getting together doesn’t really feel organic (she thinks she is going to be proposed to by boyfriend/boss Josh Groban – but instead is offered a job – causing her to spiral and go and make out with him).

They then start their courtship – but even this begins at over an hour into the film. By this stage Cal has already ‘become a ladies man’ which causes conflict between himself and Emily – after she discovers that one of his concubines was son Robbie’s teacher Kate.

In the mix of this, we have another love triangle of Robbie and his babysitter (who is 17), Jessica – but she is in love with Cal (which does lead to a hilarious altercation between Jessica’s dad (always on point John Carroll Lynch) later in the film).

My favourite part of the film was still Robbie, who has some of the best parts of the film – especially when he ‘confronts’ David about the affair which broke his family apart. While David isn’t an overly “bad” guy – and he is seemingly quite sweet with Emily. I found it funny that Kevin Bacon must have it in for the cast of The Office (having played the bad guy against Rainn Wilson in Super).

The final reveal in the third act that Hannah is actually Emily and Cal’s daughter would have been quite surprising since the only alluding to was the discussion of Nanna throughout by other characters. This (somewhat hilarious) altercation between Cal/Jessica’s Dad/Jacob/David leaves everyone quite heartbroken – and then leads to the ‘tacked on speeches” scene that felt a little overkill – where all the characters have their ‘relationships’ discussed (Robbie/Jessica)(Cal/Emily)(David/Emily) etc must be resolved.

The film as a rather ambiguous ending on whether Cal and Emily get back together, with them seemingly happy with each others presence, giving a hopeful sign that they are on the road to working things out.

Overall

Mostly sweet, with well written characters. I would have loved to have more of Hannah’s side story before she finally woos Jacob – and had this happen sooner too, as it would have made the ‘reveal’ even more dramatic.

The open ended ending on Cal and Emily’s future is slightly annoying – as they both had somewhat options for being apart from another – but it was a creative choice by the writers we have to go with.

Still – a strong recommend.

4/5

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