Directors: Glenn Ficara and John Requa
Starring: Julianne Moore, Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling
‘A Marvellous Masterpiece’
Not many actors make movies that excel like Steve Carell. Ever since his rise to stardom in the 1990’s, Carell has become a celebrated comedic icon. Whether it’s political leaders, frustrated fathers or wrestling trainers, Carell has portrayed many fascinating characters. Arguably, Carell’s strength as an actor is his abilities to excel in every genre. Although he’s best known for making comedies, Carell has proven he can thrive in dramatic films as well. Through his versatility, Carell has become an iconic actor that audiences value. He’s one of those rare actors that has always poured his heart and soul into every single role. Carell has never been afraid of taking risks in his career by portraying characters which aren’t likeable. Shining a bright light in darkness, Carell has become a beloved icon in the entertainment business. An actor whose movies audiences cherish. Carell has become an icon that has proven he can accomplish. Despite his role in “The Office” making him a comedic star, the actor has proven he can excel with practically every genre. Through his commemorated career, Carell has made many unforgettable movies which are definitely without a doubt worth seeing.
I’m a huge fan of Carell and adore all the films he has created in his career. However, “Crazy Stupid Love” is my favourite. Since its release in 2011, Glen Ficarra’s movie has become an iconic romantic classic. Packed with stunning production-design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal performances, it’s one of the best romantic comedies ever made. At the centre of it all is a phenomenal performance from Steve Carell, capturing a depressed husband that is trapped in a broken marriage. Ultimately, what makes “Crazy Stupid Love” a masterpiece is its message. The film delivers a bold message about broken marriages which would resonate among everyone. A mesmerizing masterpiece about deteriorating marriages, there are many strong reasons why “Crazy Stupid Love” is a movie worth seeing.
“Crazy Stupid Love” tells the story of a couple facing a broken marriage. Steve Carell plays Cal Weaver, a man that has always dedicated his life towards his family. Cal seems to have everything a husband could possibly ask for: a stable job, attractive wife and joyous children. However, Cal’s dreams are destroyed when he becomes the victim of a broken marriage that causes disaster. When his wife Emily (Julianne Moore) asks for a sudden divorce, Cal faces remorse. Left alone single without a lover, Cal faced a dilemma. Just when all hope seems to be lost, Cal seeks assistance from a style icon to get life back on track. Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling) is a stylish womanizer with a flair for picking up women. Through the assistance of Jacob, Cal attempts to make his dreams come true. As odds are stacked against his favour, Cal questions whether it’s possible to recover from divorce disaster.
Glenn Ficarra is a newcomer towards themes of divorce. Before he directed “Crazy Stupid Love”, Ficarra had never made a movie about broken marriages before. It was the director’s first attempt to capture the tensions endured by men facing broken marriage, but he pulled it off effectively. Using bold cinematography, Ficarra captures a man struggling to cope deal a divorce tragedy. Visually, the film is a feast for the eyes as stunning as marriages facing a demise. Ficarra effectively uses montages to capture a man struggling to cope with broken marriages experiencing tragedy. For instance, montages elevate the shopping scene. During this unforgettable scene, Cal seeks guidance from Jacob on how to dress effectively in order to impress women. One appreciates montages capturing the hardships that men experiencing divorce go through. Montages are complicated techniques to use in movies. As Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Magnolia” suggested, montages elevate movies about trauma. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this movie. Using powerful cinematography, Ficarra captures the hardship that divorced fathers in broken marriages are facing.
Another phenomenal aspect of “Crazy Stupid Love” which merits appreciation is production design. From a technical perspective, the film is extremely well made. One of the settings in the movie which plays an essential role is bars. Throughout the movie, Ficarra effectively uses bars as settings to showcase the hardships of divorced men seeking lovers. For instance, the setting of the bar enhances the pickup scene. During this memorable scene, Jacob gives Cal valuable guidance by inspiring him to pickup a woman. One admired the production design of the bars showcasing lives of men experiencing marriages that decline. Bars are tricky settings to use in movies. As Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Boogie Nights” demonstrated, bars enhance commemorated movies about the adult film industry. However, it works immensely in this movie. Furthermore, the musical score is phenomenal. Christophe Beck’s music is integral towards the success of the film. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the painful burden men in declining marriages bear. Through stunning production, Ficarra captures the lives of commemorated couples enduring tension.
Storytelling is one of the reasons why “Crazy Stupid Love” is a captivating comedic classic which is compelling. The movie is beautifully written, and effectively uses tragicomedy to capture the lives of men that are impacted by divorce. Ficarra’s screenwriting strength is his abilities to capture tension faced by men in a doomed marriage using tragicomedy. The film deftly blends moments of tragedy with comedy to capture men that face divorce catastrophe. For instance, tragicomedy elevates the parent-teacher conference scene. During this heartfelt scene, Cal faces a panic attack when he finds his son’s teacher is a past lover. It’s a beautiful scene that’s both tragic and funny at the same time. Through tragicomedy, Ficarra constructs characters that audiences can easily relate to. Tragicomedy is a complex technique to use in movies. As David O. Russell’s “Silver Linings Playbook” suggested, tragicomedy enhances movies about bipolar disorder. Sam Mendes’ “American Beauty” demonstrated tragicomedy enhances movie capturing suburban families. Nevertheless, it works immensely in this film. Through an extraordinary screenplay, Ficarra captures couples in broken marriages facing a price to pay.
One appreciates amazing performances.
Steve Carell delivers one of his finest career performances as Cal. Carell achieved praise for playing comedic characters in comedies. With “Crazy Stupid Love”, however, the actor took on his most emotional role. It isn’t easy to portray a man stuck in a doomed marriage, but he succeeded immensely. This is the actor unlike you’ve ever seen him before: intense, charismatic and emotional in his most iconic role. It’s a role that gave the actor a chance to showcase strong emotional range he hadn’t shown in his career before. With mesmerizing expressions, Carell captures the angst, desperation and trauma of a husband stuck in a marriage. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the most commemorated actors working in the industry today.
Julianne Moore is magnificent as a woman in a broken marriage destined to endure tragedies. While Carell gets a showier role, Moore is also excellent as a woman whose life spirals out of control. Moore has always had an aptitude for playing emotionally disturbed women that are under stress, and “Crazy Stupid Love” found her strengths as an actress. With mesmerizing expressions, she captures the angst, bravery and resentment of a woman which is stuck in a doomed marriage. It’s a terrific performance from one of the most commemorated stars in the industry today.
The supporting cast is spectacular and also worthy of appreciation. Ryan Gosling is great, capturing slick style of a womanizer guiding men on how to pick up attractive women that are appealing. Emma Stone js excellent, and captures the charisma of a woman that faces a dilemma when she falls in love with an older man. Lastly, Marisa Tomei merits recognition. As a teacher having an extramarital affair, she brings hilarious comical relief to the movie.
Finally, “Crazy Stupid Love” will earn attention of everyone capturing couples in love. Unlike most romantic comedies, it discusses themes everyone would relate to. It discusses powerful themes such an identity, marriage and trauma which would resonate with everyone. Viewers aren’t required to be familiar with American marriages to appreciate it. It delivers a strong message about marriage which will resonate with everyone. Therefore, “Crazy Stupid Love” is one of those rare romantic movies which everyone would adore.
Fans of Steve Carell would appreciate “Crazy Stupid Love” and so will movie-goers which seek exhilarating entertainment. A riveting romantic classic, it celebrates an actor that has built a legacy that’s iconic.
A captivating portrait of divorced men facing terrifying challenges struggling to raise downtrodden families under financial pressures that are frightening. it’s a breathtaking reminder of a commemorated actor that has built a lasting legacy earning a huge worldwide following for his abilities to portray larger-than-life characters which are compelling in captivating movies which are definitely without a single doubt worth celebrating.
5/5 stars
The Film Buff 