Crazy, Stupid, Love: The Rom-Com That Surprised Us All
Beyond simply a romantic comedy, Crazy, Stupid, Love was the film that made us laugh, made us cry, and made us rethink love. For a genre riddled with stale formulas, it was a breath of fresh air. What, then, was so special about this film? Let’s take a look at the pre-release hype and the unexpected developments that ultimately captivated the audience.
The Pre-release Hype
For a film that had yet to hit theaters, Crazy, Stupid, Love had managed to generate audiences, and for good reason. The cast was a dream: a post-The Office Steve Carell, a peak Ryan Gosling after The Notebook, a veteran actress Julianne Moore, a young Emma Stone, and dependable Kevin Bacon. The film’s description of a man learning to cope after a divorce and subsequently attempting to figure out the complexities of modern dating was, at the time, both relatable and timely.
The trailers hinted at a film that was equally humorous and heartfelt, featuring Gosling’s remarkable character guiding Carell’s character, all the while displaying the exceptional awkwardness with which he is famed. The audience was already excited about the palpable on-screen chemistry and the dynamic that was about to unfold.
Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) is a middle-aged family man, for whom ordinary life is turned upside down when his wife, Emily (Julianne Moore), divorces him after revealing that she has been having an affair. In utter despair, Cal spends a lot of time at a neighborhood bar, where he meets Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling), a pick-up artist who takes Cal under his wing and teaches him to seduce women.
His new self at first works on rekindling his relationship with Emy, and this time, it is Emy who seems more interested. His new self at first works on rekindling his relationship with Emy, and this time, it is Emy who seems more interested. Complications, however, arise when their son, Robbie (Jonah Bobo), becomes infatuated with his babysitter, Jessica (Analeigh Tipton), who has a crush on Cal. This set of interconnected relationships provides a rich source of comedy and emotional depth in a narrative that ultimately presents a surprising conclusion.
While Cal serves as the emotional center of the story, his character does not grow as significantly as the others. All his wife seems to do is walk away, and he is left to pick, reconcile with and heal a relationship that is clearly dead. It is ironic that for a man who does not get to come in and reclaim his family, he is forced to internalize that claim. This is an emotional journey that makes his eventual reconciliation with Emy more rewarding to watch. This is a story of emotional journeys and reconciliation that is both rewarding and commendable.
Emily’s character develops too. Her affair, which she regards as shameful, becomes a point for reflection. The film does not vilify her; she is portrayed positively as a multi-layered character attempting to reconcile her opinions within.
The most baffling transformation is that of Jacob’s. The womanizer, who is a shallow and self-absorbed character, grows a soft side to himself as he falls for Hannah (Emma Stone), someone who significantly contests his ideologies about love and relationships.
Effective Cinematic Elements
The directors, Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, presented a different take to the romantic comedy genre. The pacing was well-controlled, as there was enough for every narrative thread and none felt rushed or left behind. The cinematography’s emotional character subtleties were spot on and added to the narrative.
Dan Fogelman’s screenplay was witty and precise, creating dialogue and situations that were quoteable and interesting, yet realistically fun. The film was able to integrate humor and emotion to a scale that was considerably different from the rest of the romantic comedies of that era.
Behind the Scenes: Untold Stories
In addition to the undeniable chemistry captured on screen, there are riveting stories to tell about what happened off camera. One example would be the “Dirty Dancing” lift moment with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. However, the lift scene almost did not go off without a hitch. Emma said there was a childhood incident that left her fearful of being lifted. This was a major reason as to why the scene was so difficult for her. Even with the stress the incident caused her, she and Ryan were able to find light in the situation and continue filming.
There is also the original title of the film. Before settling on Crazy, Stupid, Love, the film bore the working title, “Untitled Marital Crisis Comedy.” The title change was meant to keep in tune with the film’s overall themes and tone.
Audience Expectations vs. Reality
As for the expectations before the film was released, there was a lot of them. With a strong ensemble cast, the premise of the film and the blend of a few genres, all the ingredients were in place for a sure hit. However, there were a few critics that felt the film did not live up to its potential. One for example said that the film, despite a star-studded cast, was a disappointment and compared it to other romantic comedies, namely, Date Night.
Even given the critiques, the film was well received, managing to turn over 145 million dollars worldwide on a 50 million dollar budget; it was clear its mixture of heart and humor was well loved.
Years later, Crazy, Stupid, Love is still an entry remembered fondly in the romantic comedy film genre. Its themes of love, relationship, and self growth still connect with audiences. The film was also pivotal in cementing the success of the then new, impressive cast, and the chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone became the basis on which many future collaborations, including La La Land, would be built.
Crazy, Stupid, Love is more than an ordinary romantic comedy. It is a deeply insightful and poignant exploration of love. Its humor, sentiment and pleasure in the film is the essence of human experience, and it is this fundamental essence that makes it relevant to so many new audiences.
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