#88: Crazy, Stupid, Love.

Release Date: July 29th, 2011

Format: DVD

Written by: Dan Fogelman

Directed by: Glenn Ficarra and John Requa

3 Stars

Crazy, Stupid, Love. has a talented comedic cast and a $50 million budget, both of which elevate this somewhat mediocre material to a pleasant romantic comedy. Following Crazy, Stupid, Love., writer Dan Fogelman’s next two scripts were The Guilt Trip (poorly received by the public and critics) and Last Vegas (rough reviews, but the thing somehow made $100 million). As a director he has made two dramas, one well-received and one not. As for directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, they last worked as writers on Disney’s Jungle Cruise. Make of that what you will.

I guess my point is that Crazy, Stupid, Love. is not some auteur work of a visionary filmmaker. It is a studio movie, made by guys that work in the industry for a living. You get the feeling that the movie was audience-tested to death in order to achieve maximum likeability.

But hey, Steve Carrell plays a great funny schlub. Julianne Moore can bring the gravitas to make the film matter. Emma Stone is perfectly cast as the neurotic girl next door. And Ryan Gosling is in full movie star heartthrob mode. You could do a lot worse with your two hours.