This multigenerational ensemble farce supplies plenty of laughs, along with poignant observations about the fickle finger of fate. Nebbish suburbanite Cal (Steve Carell) thinks he has the perfect life until his high school sweetheart wife, Emily (Julianne Moore), confesses to having an affair with coworker David (Kevin Bacon), informing Cal over dinner in a crowded restaurant that she wants a divorce. Dazed and distraught, Cal drowns his sorrows at a bar, blubbering to everyone that he's been cuckolded. Sympathizing Jacob (Ryan Gosling)—a cool, resolutely single womanizer—tells Cal, “You've got a kind face. You've got a good head of hair. You seem like a nice guy. I'm going to help you rediscover your manhood.” So, Cal embarks on a complete physical and psychological overhaul, scoring with eager English teacher Kate (Marisa Tomei). Meanwhile, slick Jacob faces rejection from savvy law student Hannah (Emma Stone), who is in turn disappointed by lawyer Richard (Josh Groban). And Cal's precocious 13-year-old son Robbie (Jonah Bobo) is sure that the family's 17-year-old babysitter, Jessica (Analeigh Tipton), is his soul mate—but she has a crush on Cal. Written with sophisticated humor by Dan Fogelman, Crazy, Stupid, Love is ably directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, who play off Carell's rueful vulnerability. Although the film features too many characters and a seemingly endless series of anticlimaxes, overall it's both affecting and amusing. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes (13 min.) and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are a “Steve and Ryan Walk into a Bar” interview with costars Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling (7 min.), “The Player Meets His Match” with Gosling and costar Emma Stone (6 min.), a bonus DVD copy of the film, and an instant streaming UltraViolet digital copy of the film. Bottom line: a so-so extras package for a winning comedy.] (S. Granger)
Crazy, Stupid, Love
Warner, 118 min., PG-13, DVD: $28.99, Blu-ray: $35.99, Nov. 1 Volume 26, Issue 6
Crazy, Stupid, Love
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