Dave's Blog

{5/5} “I’m going to help you rediscover your manhood. Do you have any idea where you lost it? … We’re going to find it. We are. I promise you. And I promise you this too, Cal. When we’re done, this wife of yours, she’s going to rue the day she decided to give up on you. That’s my offer. You in or you out?”

Cal is shocked when Emily, his wife of 25 years, tells him when they’re out for dinner one night that she wants a divorce. He starts frequenting a bar and one day Jacob, one of the other regular patrons of the bar, decides he’s going to help Cal get his groove back. He gets a new hair cut, new clothes, and eventually a new attitude.

Meanwhile Robbie, Cal and Emily’s son, is in love with Jessica, his babysitter. And Jessica is in love with Cal.

Crazy, Stupid, Love. was released in 2011.

It’s absolutely brilliant. There are serious moments but it’s very funny — and occasionally screamingly funny.

It’s about fighting for your soulmate.

The confusion about who’s related to whom and who loves whom near the end is Shakespearean.

Steve Carell is amazing as always, and he has a fabulous cast around him.

The fun music is by Christophe Beck (the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and  Nick Urata (Ruby Sparks).

Steve Carell (Horton Hears a Who!) plays Cal and Julianne Moore (Don Jon) plays Emily. Ryan Gosling (Lars and the Real Girl) plays Jacob and Marisa Tomei (My Cousin Vinny) plays Kate.

Joey King (Ramona and Beezus) plays Molly and Jonah Bobo (Zathura) plays Robbie. Analeigh Tipton (Warm Bodies) plays Jessica. Emma Stone (The Amazing Spider-Man) and Kevin Bacon (Mystic River) also have roles.

The movie was directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (also co-directors of I Love You Phillip Morris).