Crazy, Stupid, Love.

It's cute. It's very cute. It's good, but not great, and the only reason I cannot give it an outstanding rating is because there is nothing that truly sets it apart from any other romantic comedy. It definitely has its pluses, however, and I would still recommend the movie if you're looking for some light, heart-warming laughter.

The film's best quality is its star-studded cast comprised of Julianne Moore, Steve Carrell, Kevin Bacon, Ryan Gosling, and Emma Stone.The movie if very well-acted and the directors, Glen Ficarra and John Requa (I Love You Phillip Morris, Bad Santa) take an interesting spin in terms of the direction. The movie has a dream-like feel to it in terms of its cinematography, and the script, although categorized as a romantic comedy, has a very satirical feel to it. I found myself attentive to these cinematic qualities, but slightly puzzled at first, as well. I was not quite sure how these effects fit with the overall message of the film. As the movie progressed, I felt more at ease with the film's direction. Even if off-putting at first, it is interesting to watch and that is important. Not many romantic comedies deviate from standard cinematic filmmaking devices and this one did, in terms of both script and effect, and I think that is respectable. 

Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling have tremendous chemistry and they are a joy to watch. Gosling is handsome, and witty, and Stone is charming, and natural. Steve Carrell and Julianne Moore are seasoned veterans and I think they definitely do justice to their respective roles. I said earlier that there is not much that sets this film apart from any other romantic comedy. In terms of the film's overall message, this is very true. It's cliche'd but I think it is in the best way possible. Gosling's character is the age old story of the alpha male that never takes women or love seriously, until one girl comes along that changes everything for him. Steve Carrell and Julianne Moore tell the story of the once perfect love, that turned into the perfect marriage, that somewhere along the way turned sour because two people became too comfortable, and all romance became lost between the two of them. One of them cheats, both are heart broken, and then one sets out on a journey of self-discovery, in the end bringing the two of them back together with love and romance rekindled. The movie ends in the overly-done way where the entire ensemble-cast is actually connected, although throughout the movie they had no idea their lives were so intertwined, until that one scene where all story lines with all characters collapse into one climactic scene. It was cute, but completely unnecessary.

These may be stories that are told time and time again, but there is reason for their familiarity. People love hearing them! People want to hear messages of hope through film, art, and entertainment. This message of hope and optimism is what makes them entertaining in most cases. There's nothing wrong with a good cliche now and again. And if you love a feel-good movie every now and then as much as I do, I would say go see Crazy, Stupid, Love.