The harsh reality of Cal Weaver's (Steve Carrell) marital crisis hits him hard when his wife Emily (Julianne Moore) reveals she has slept with her work colleague David Lindhagen (Kevin Bacon).
Cal is still very much in love with his wife and disagrees that the marriage has gone stale and the spark has gone. In spite of this he agrees to move out of the family home away from his beloved kids and into a flat on his own.
Cal struggles with life on his own and maintaining his relationship with his 2 young children, and due to a lack of loyal friends, finds himself spending his evenings propping up the bar at a local pub.
One of the evenings he gets the attention of Jacob, a local handsome womanizer played by Ryan Gosling. He is the epitome of a Lothario offering all the right pick up lines and never goes home alone.
Jacob sees Cal as a challenge and decides to educate him on how to dress, look and ultimately attract the ladies.
Cal's first attempts are a disaster with great comic results, but gradually he grows in confidence and soon becomes more like Jacob than intended.
At the same time, events take an ironic U turn for Jacob as he meets and falls head over heels for the pretty Hannah (Emma Stone) - who initially rejects his advances.
Cal is not 100% happy with his new life as he his still in love with his wife and after he accidentally learns that she does in fact miss and love him, he tries to win her back with the help of his kids.
There are a couple of very amusing sub-plots. One involving Cal's son Robbie's (Jonah Bobo) obsession with his babysitter, manages to be both cringe worthy and hysterical.
Plus Marisa Tomei playing Robbie's teacher Kate throws a spanner in the works along the way to hilarious effect.
The final scene of the film brings surprises galore for all the characters, and the slapstick scenes are brilliantly funny.
Steve Carrell and Ryan Gosling have great chemistry and comic timing together on screen, and all the female characters are excellent - in particular Moore and Tomei.
Crazy Stupid Love is more than a romantic comedy, it's a witty, cleverly written and well acted drama with just the right amount of warmth and romance to please both the male and the female.
Highly recommended!!!
Score: 8/10
