ViewGuide

Created Oct 07, 2011 07:43AM PST • Edited Nov 07, 2023 05:59PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Good 3.0

   Seven satiric relationships are more than enough for one sex comedy. Start with 1) a teen mooning for his babysitter, 2) the babysitter mooning for the boy’s father, and 3) the father dealing with the demise of his marriage, along with 4) a newfound Lothario status. Then add 5) his wife’s workplace affair, not to mention 6) a young professional’s semi-serious relationship with her boss/boyfriend, followed by 7) her improbably deep connection with a world-class lounge Lothario.

   Whew. It’s kinda too much and does go on too long, truth be told. Sure, Crazy, Stupid, Love has several LOLs, strikes many an au courant note, and is delivered by a charismatic and accomplished cast that includes half a dozen big stars. But a bit less would have been more, I think.

   Funny is funny and charismatic is appealing, so don’t shy away if you like the six stars, or sex comedies as a genre. Crazy, Stupid, Love isn’t too crazy, nor is it stupid. Is it a movie to love? Nope, not that either.

   Is like so bad?

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   Six name-brand stars strut their stuff.

   • Steve Carell is now a past-master as a comical leading man.
   • Ryan Gosling plays cool and studly as well as any leading man working today.
   • A little Julianne Moore goes a long way.
   • Emma Stone is smartly appealing as a normal girl navigating today’s hybrid pro/personal world.
   • Marisa Tomei is a bonus for any smart comedy. She’s a hoot as a teacher looking for Mr. Goodbar.
   • Kevin Bacon is another bonus, here as a mostly decent guy who falls for a married colleague.

   Three lesser-knowns make strong showings.

   • Analeigh Tipton engagingly plays a smitten babysitter.
   • Jonah Bobo is appealingly over-the-top as her younger admirer.
   • Josh Groban’s dorky looks come in handy as a dweeby lawyer.

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

6. Female Stars Very Good 3.5

7. Female Costars Very Good 3.5

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

   Gosling

10. Film

    Good 3.0

    The film strikes LOLs several times in today’s target rich environment of work, family, clothes and norms. Just picking on the footwear of dweeby Dads is enough to strike a chord.

11. Direction Good 3.0

12. Play Very Good 3.5

13. Music Good 3.0

14. Visuals Very Good 3.5
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.9

    PG-13? Probably should have been light R.

17. Sex Titillating 2.1

18. Violence Gentle 1.5

19. Rudeness Salty 2.1

21. Reality

    Glib 1.4

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.8

23. Biological Glib 1.5

24. Physical Natural 1.0