Now Playing: ‘Crazy’ Not ‘Stupid’ at All, Has Lots to ‘Love’

There’s something cool about being part of an exclusive club and having something made specifically for you and your fellow members. Having joined the married club nearly five years ago, ‘Crazy, Stupid, Love.’ (don’t get grammatically mislead by the unnecessary period at the end of its title) feels like one of those “Members Only” jackets. Due to its clever, well thought-out and entertaining script, if I wasn’t a member now, I’d look forward to the day I was just so that I could fully get what the film is all about. But please don’t mistake me for saying that ‘Crazy, Stupid, Love.’ is made solely for married couples. There’s a little something for any adult here, young or old.

‘Crazy, Stupid, Love.’ tells several different stories. The biggest follows a divorcing couple (Steve Carell and Julianne Moore) whose spark-less marriage has worn down to the point of infidelity. In the second half of the movie, a vibrant and promising new romance develops between an energetic younger couple (Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone).

‘Crazy, Stupid, Love.’ will have a different meaning for every audience member. It will feel like a cautionary tale to those still unsure of what exactly they’re doing, or supposed to be doing, in their marriages – like me. It will feel like an aid helping to heal the wounds and scars from unspoken issues in worn-down aged marriages. It will teach to openly address those problems. It will inspire change, and give a reason to fight for something that might appear beyond repair. The electric and exciting new romance will nostalgically charge the spark needed to renew commitment and devotion. It will remind you of what you once felt and why it’s worth fighting for. As sappy as that all sounds, it’s true. And, yes, I’m a romantic at heart who believes in true love. Films like ‘Crazy, Stupid, Love.’ bring that aesthetic to life and prove that I’m not disillusioned, that others feel the same way too.

Running a little long and featuring a few cheesy Hollywood moments, ‘Crazy, Stupid, Love.’ isn’t without its faults – faults that are completely forgivable considering the strong achievement of bringing love to life on the big screen in such a realistic manner. For adults looking for a mature level of entertainment, I would definitely recommend ‘Crazy, Stupid, Love.’ for this weekend’s viewing.

Rating: ★★★★☆

3 comments

  1. EM

    While I think the period at the end of this film’s title—like that at the end of the title Good Night, and Good Luck.—really doesn’t belong, I don’t consider it grammatically misleading. I actually find the use of the infinitive/present form mislead (which rhymes with feed) in place of the past participle misled (which rhymes with fed) much more misleading. Within the title, I find the second comma to be misleading, or at least confusing. If the first two words are adjectives modifying a noun which is the first word, then that second comma should be struck: Crazy, Stupid Love. I suppose, though, that there is a possibility that the third word is really a verb in the imperative mood, and the first two words are meant as epithets in direct address, in which case all the commas do fit.

    • EM

      Speaking of misleading: when I wrote, “…modifying a noun which is the first word…”, I meant, “…modifying a noun which is the third word…”. Mea culpa.

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