After almost four decades living on this mud ball we called Earth, I'd like to think I've seen every iteration of the typical love story, by way of a romantic comedy angle. Be it a case of Boy meets Girl, Girl meets Boy or even Unlikeable Boy helps Pretty Boy with Less Charm Win Unattainable Girl (see most Cyrano adaptations.)
I was ready to dismiss the new Warner Brothers rom-com (with much emphasis on the -com) Crazy, Stupid, Love flat out, having become prejudiced by the torrent of similarly-themed movies which have preceded it.
But somehow, this film reeled me in. Without being so much the predictable love story, Love takes an existing relationship and tries to examine its problems leading to a possible divorce, while also examining the aftermath and the difficult road to bachelorhood which follows.
Crazy, Stupid, Love (3.5 out of 5)
Steve Carell plays Cal Weaver, a married executive whose marriage to Emily (Julianne Moore) has fizzled to a platonic, unbearable existence, at least for her. When Emily declares (in a crowded restaurant, no less) that she wants a divorce, this sends Cal into a downward spiral of self-pity, despair and denial.
Enter a dashing, charming womanizer named Jacob (Ryan Gosling) who notices Cal's sad-sack state at the club they both frequent, and decides to help the beleaguered father win back his sanity, his mojo and his pride.
Of course, this is a comedy, and with Steve Carell (not my first choice for leading man) doing what he does best (playing decent, awkward characters), you have to figure Gosling's hunkish guru will have his work cut out for him.
There is so much more to this film than an unlikely bromance, though. Emma Stone brings some good chuckles as Hannah, the one girl who seems immune to Jacob's charm. Her interaction with Gosling makes for great on-screen chemistry.
Julianna Moore and Steve Carell make a great, believable couple, one you want to root for, despite their marital issues. Kevin Bacon does make a worthwhile appearance as a potential suitor for Emily, and even he does get a few choice moments throughout the film.
All in all, this film reminded me of some of the more memorable films of the late 80s and early 90s, written by Nora Ephron. While the popular writer-director had nothing to do with this film, it's easy to see how the film's actual writers may have felt inspired by her brilliance.
I can genuinely say I thoroughly enjoyed Crazy, Stupid, Love in the company of my lovely spouse, and came away feeling all the better for it. Love survives all, even if it does take us for an unpredictable spin once in a while.
A Better Life (3.5 out of 5)
A moving small-budget film worth your time, you'll find yourself wishing the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences would throw some Best Actor love in the direction of Demian Bichir (seen on TV's Weeds) as he portrays Carlos, an illegal South of the Border gardener whose difficult life avoiding immigration agents only gets more complicated as he tries to keep his young impressionable son Luis (Jose Julian) away from local Los Angeles street gangs.
The key to this film's success lies not only in Bichir's near-perfect performance, but in the overall tone of the movie, making the audience feel the pinch of living under constant threat and danger, obstacles which could forever destroy an already modest, desperate family. You'll remember my words come Oscar season.
Cars 2 (3 out of 5)
A pretty acceptable sequel to Disney's highly enjoyable 2005 car-based film, Cars 2 takes our heroes Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson) and delightful goofus Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) as they head off across the world to compete in a prestigious competition.
But wait! There's more! The competition might also be the setting for some highly dubious activities, investigated by dashing, debonnair British spy car Finn McMissile (Sir Michael Caine), who seeks to recruit Mater's help.
While I wasn't really thrilled about having John Lasseter refocus this franchise towards the likeable tow truck sidekick, I couldn't help but marvel at the yet-again astonishing visuals involved in making such an animated blockbuster. The ocean scenes and the backdrops of Paris, London and the coast line of Italy will have you rubbing your eyes in disbelief.
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan (3 out of 5)
The touching story (based on Lisa See's novel) of two young Chinese girls who are bonded into "Laotong" (think of this as a bonding of sisterhood), Snow Flower and the Secret Fan draws an interesting parallel to a pair of their 21st Century descendants as they face similar social pressures, and must learn from their forebears to cope in the present-day.
Beautifully directed by Wayne Wang (The Joy Luck Club, Blue in the Face), this film handles delicate themes and issues about Chinese culture while showcasing the inner strength of these amazing young women. Enjoy! Oh, and Hugh Jackman does appear in the film, in case you were interested.
Water for Elephants (2.5 out of 5)
An unlikely love story set in the world --wait for it -- of an early 20th Century traveling circus, Twilight hunk Robert Pattinson plays a young vet student who drops everything and decides to literally join the circus, attracting the eyes of the ringleader's wife (Reese Witherspoon.)
As much as I enjoyed seeing the attention to detail and the appearance of Christoph Waltz as the jealous husband, I just couldn't buy any of the romance here, possibly from either a lack of effort on the part of Witherspoon, or from malaise from Pattinson over exposure.
Don't get me wrong, I admire his post-vamp efforts, especially when he goes outside the comfort zone (see him as Salvador Dali in Little Ashes instead). All the same, this movie didn't work.
Trespass (1 out of 5)
Oh, where to begin.....to claim that leads Nicolas Cage and Nicole Kidman called in their lazy performances would probably be an insult to telephones. The pair play a dysfunctional, well-to-do couple who, along with their rebellious teen daughter, get visited by a small group of criminals who hope to extort them for all they've got. Strained intrigue ensues.
While you might get a smidge of entertainment out of this turnip, I'd be remiss not to mention how the film was so badly received by audiences that it was pulled from theatres after only ten days. Maybe you can plan to see this film as a dare. I leave it up to you.
Also on Blu-Ray and DVD this Week
As I mentioned earlier, we just celebrated Halloween, so of course that means it's all Xmas from here, my friends! With that in mind, the good folks over at Paramount have offered a high-def release of the hilarious Bill Murray homage to the Dickens classic, Scrooged. I had hoped there'd be some unseen footage or bloopers hidden on the disc, but all we get is the theatrical trailer. Bah humbug, indeed.
Staying in line with the theme, Paramount also offers a Collector's Set of Frank Capra's ubiquitous holiday classic It's a Wonderful Life, starring Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey. While the pretty packaging does include a tree ornament (a bell -- whether an angel gets its wings when it rings is out of my hands, folks), the set also offers both the original black-and-white version as well as the colorized update. I can't in good conscience approve of any colorization of such classics, but of course, the choice is yours.
While still on the topic of all things Paramount, the fourth season of David Duchovny's Californication hits DVD, with his lecherous Hank Moody now more popular than ever! The raunch and laughs for this series come in equally solid doses. I hope this show goes on for years to come.
Dominic Messier - Dominic Messier is a Toronto-based Film & TV writer, Sci-Fi TV and Film Dramas Topic Editor, and creator of PopCultureLandscape.com
