Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)

After 25 years of marriage, a man (Steve Carell) is stunned when his wife (Julianne Moore) asks for a divorce and admits an affair with a co-worker (Kevin Bacon). Tossed unceremoniously into the single life again, a player and ladies man (Ryan Gosling) takes him under his wing and thus begins a series of events that spiral into ways he (and the audience) never imagined. The title says it all. But this is no cute WHEN HARRY MET SALLY romcom or wild and crazy BRIDESMAIDS farce. Directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (I LOVE YOU PHILIP MORRIS) have created a marvelous examination on the messiness of love. The highs, the lows, the anger, the shame, the pain, the contradictions, the insanity of it. By turns both poignant and hilarious, the film feels fresh and vital. Carell gets a chance to show his acting chops and Gosling encompasses the shallowness of a gym rat perfectly but his transformation is subtle and believable and one of the most charming things about the film. Marisa Tomei gets as close to stealing the film as anyone playing a recovering alcoholic with impeccable comedic timing. Two youngsters, Jonah Bobo as a 13 year old in love with his sister's 17 year old babysitter played by Analeigh Tipton (who's in love with Carell) have just the right amount of sincerity and awkwardness. The rest of the cast is spot on including Emma Stone, John Carroll Lynch and Josh Groban. An absolute delight!