Review: 'Crazy Stupid Love' is uproariously funny

Film: Crazy Stupid Love (A)
Directors: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Cast: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon, Analeigh Tipton
Rating: ***1/2

When middle-aged Cal Weaver (Carell) learns that his jaded wife (and former teenage sweetheart) Emily (Moore) no longer loves him and cheated on him with her colleague David Lindhagen (Bacon), he moves out of his home, repeatedly cursing his fate.

The only man able to snap Cal out of his self-pitying rut is the seemingly soulless pick-up artist Jacob (Gosling), a strapping young lad who, on seeing the emotionally drained Cal, takes him under his wing, teaching him the way of the Lothario. But though he sports the finest duds and sprouts manipulative lines that magically whisk comely lasses off the dance floor and into his lush pad, one unyielding girl, Hannah (Stone), is immune to the playboy’s otherwise unfailing moves because she thinks she has her life all figured out (or so she hopes!).

While the betrayed Cal is mastering Jacob’s seduction sorcery and proceeds to bed hordes of women, his 13-year-old son Robbie is hopelessly in love with his 17-year-old babysitter Jessica (Tipton). But alas, she cannot requite it as her heart is stolen by the boy’s hero — his father (though both are oblivious of this).

Can Cal, Robbie, Jessica, Emily, Jacob, and Hannah find their true soulmates?

Crazy Stupid Love is a well-directed romantic comedy that is palatable, even enjoyable, to non-lovers of the genre. In fact, the film's humour (sometimes self-conscious and mindful of clichés) extends beyond the farcical excursions beyond the veil of syrupy sweetness that usually constitute the 'comedy' part. The ample dramatic bits --- the problems that arise out of the absence of romance, or complications from its presence, and how these folks deal with it --- don't weigh down the film either. And it's the fine performances apart from the screenplay that help this film maintain this balance.

Steve Carell, apart from his impeccable comic timing, brings a certain sweetness, generosity and sincerity to the film (many would share Jessica’s outrage that he should be the reason for his wife's infidelity). As the shamelessly shallow rake and the focused law student who seeks a durable relationship, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone do a good job while Kevin Bacon, in his minuscule role, lends his awesomeness to the film.

Crazy Stupid Love is a well-meaning, light-hearted film that is at times absorbing, heart-rending and uproariously funny. When it comes to romantic comedies, this is the genuine article, not the sugary, vapid post-lobotomy fantasy that is your regular Hollywood love story.