Crazy, Stupid, Love

2 Stars

In the aggravatingly punctuated romantic comedy "Crazy, Stupid, Love." (can you even believe that period?) does anyone ever discuss why the central couple, played by Steve Carell and Julianne Moore, should or shouldn't be together? Or the romantic challenges that face two people who met in high school, when they were pre-adults, and settled down when their friends were still wound up over their latest romances? No, they don't. They do not talk about such matters. Too bad, because they're interesting.

What we have here is an unstable if fairly diverting case of 21st century characters caught in a 19th century Feydeau-style plot machine, featuring an ensemble doing all it can to finesse the swings between melancholic pathos and "Meet the Fockers"-level slapstick.

This is the "Babel" or "Crash" of ensemble romantic comedies, with screenwriter Dan Fogelman mapping out several narrative surprises that throw you for little loops as they're delivered. After a couple of decades of marriage, the LA wife and mother of two played by Moore announces over dinner that she wants a divorce, owing to an affair with a co-worker (Kevin Bacon, Hollywood's preferred cad-about-town). Her husband, played by top-billed Carell, can barely process the news. He moves out, though finds himself sneaking back over to the house at night to tend to the yard work in secret.

Much of "Crazy, Stupid, Love." takes place in a pickup bar frequented by the abbed-up ladyslayer played by Ryan Gosling, who always seems more wax than human to me, though there may be some straight females and gay males out there who have a different opinion. Out of pity and arrogance, plus a smidge of affection, this self-described "total tomcat in the sack" presents himself as a sort of manhood recovery consultant, coaching the Carell character, newly on the market, into finding his hot new persona. Gosling's poor-little-rich-stud comes from a loveless home and a mother described as "cold." This he reveals, uncharacteristically, to his latest conquest, a lawyer-in-training played by Emma Stone, who captures his heart and turns the tables.

Following templates laid out by "Love Actually," among others, "Crazy, Stupid, Love." throws adversities of the heart at everyone. The central couple's older kid (Jonah Bobo) instructs dad to "just go get her back" (mom, that is) so there's never a question about how things will end. The boy is introduced as he's fantasizing about his 17-year-old baby sitter (Analeigh Tipton, a cast standout), who's in turn obsessed with the Carell character, and who photographs herself naked for her unwitting crush's benefit, though the photographs are discovered by her parents. Complication, complication and more complication. The Moore character derives little pleasure or satisfaction from her short-lived fling; Carell's character goes on a sexual tear -- Marisa Tomei does what she can in the role of diversion numero uno -- but never loses sight of the love of his life. (This doesn't quite seem fair.)

Directed by the "I Love You Phillip Morris" team of Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, "C, S, L." connects its characters in unexpected ways. But line-to-line, the script lacks wit and sophistication. I realize that many moviegoers take a chance on the R-rated "Bridesmaids" or "Horrible Bosses" and end up feeling mugged by the coarseness of the humor. "C, S, L.," which manages to stay this side of R, may not traffic in gross-out jokes. But the script treats the adults like children while pulling the old shtick about putting the real wisdom in the mouths of its teenagers. Also, the look of the movie is about as greasy as the Gosling character; between this film and the much snappier "Friends With Benefits," audiences are getting a dubious tutorial this summer on how to shoot a comedy, whether digitally or on film.

Still: Keep an eye on Tipton. There's more going on with her face, a kaleidoscope of determination, doubt and confusion, than with the movie itself.

 

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"Crazy, Stupid, Love" Movie Trailer

 

MPAA rating: PG-13 (for coarse humor, sexual content and language).

Running time: 1:58.

Cast: Steve Carell (Cal); Ryan Gosling (Jacob); Julianne Moore (Emily); Emma Stone (Hannah); Jonah Bobo (Robbie); John Carroll Lynch (Bernie); Analeigh Tipton (Jessica); Kevin Bacon (David); Marisa Tomei (Kate).

Credits: Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa; written by Dan Fogelman; produced by Steve Carell and Denise Di Novi. A Warner Bros. Pictures release.

 

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