Crazy, Stupid, Love.

Love is a struggle. Even in a film essentially devoid of conflict. Romantic comedies about people losing and regaining certainties in life will always have a place in any era. We will always want to run away and naïvely believe. The second film by the directors of the imaginative I Love You Phillip Morris neither advances nor enriches the genre, but it does exactly what it outwardly promises to do – it delights the viewer. It is more delightful than other films in the same category. Thanks to the well-coordinated, likable actors, smooth transitions between farce and tragedy, ironic references to genre clichés (rain, the Dirty Dancing reference) and the unexpected revelation that retroactively justifies the seemingly weak connection between the various story lines (and doesn’t seem contrived, because it consists in cleverly working with, or rather concealing, information). Due to the interconnectedness of the individual motifs, the comedy isn’t tasteless (shameless photos elegantly resolve one of the storylines), nor is it silly in its utterly unrealistic ending. Crazy, Stupid, Love is simply proof that a fresh approach can be taken to a seemingly played-out genre without the necessity of going to extremes. 75% (20/09/2011)

Once again, a film full of quality humor and great lines. I don't think anyone in the cast is up to Ryan Gosling’s standard, but Steve Carell shone exceptionally. There are plenty of scenes that made me laugh out loud and a few that made me melt a little. The music was also well chosen. I appreciate films like this in this day and age. The only thing that kept it from perfection for me was a bit less of an American ending. 4.5 stars. (08/12/2011)

Here, the entire plot of Hitch is just a prelude to a multilayered relationship collage combining romantic, comedic and dramatic elements. Though it follows a Hollywood template, it works skillfully with several characters whose love troubles are not completely clichéd and predictable. Thanks to this, and thanks to the casting of Ryan Gosling and Julianne Moore in the roles where you’d expect Adam Sandler and Salma Hayek, the film is not just another bland pot of mush. (27/09/2011)

An enjoyable likeable romantic comedy that I find a nice refresher after blockbusters, horror and Asian films. Steve Carell and Ryan Gosling are brilliant, the bar scenes are great, and the interesting twists and tricks are a delight. The highlight is the hilarious scene at the garden reunion, it will make your sides hurt. 80%. (20/06/2016)

There's loads of these brisk, funny, situationally attuned, brilliantly shot comedies with polished casts in precisely fitting jackets, and no less precisely fitting roles. And if there is also an interesting dramatic subtext and some wisdom from life, much better. It should be noted, however, that Crazy Stupid Love entertains just a little bit more than its contemporaries. It's hard to say what it is, maybe the directorial dynamics, maybe the immediacy of the main characters, in any case, it’s great. (06/01/2017)