CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE.

US, 2011, 118 minutes. Colour.
Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Kevin Bacon, Marisa Tomei, Analeigh Tipton, Jonah Bobo, Joey King, John Carroll Lynch.
Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa.

It’s unusual for a film title to have a full stop at the end of it. What does it mean for Crazy, Stupid, Love? That it is a statement? That, at the end of the film, all is resolved – which it is except for a crazy, alcoholic school teacher? (Or was it just a typo and we are reading too much into it?)

Some reviewers and publicists are referring to the film as another ‘romcom’. Not exactly. Rather, this is a story of some crazy behaviour on the part of very young, young and middle aged people, quite a range of craziness and quite some stupidity.

At the centre is a middle-aged couple who married young, who have three children, who seem to be ideal –until the wife, Emily (Julianne Moore) blurts out to her husband, Cal (Steve Carrell) that she wants a divorce after having an affair with a fellow-worker (Kevin Bacon). The film is more about Cal’s depression, his listening to a young man about town and womaniser, Jacob (Ryan Gosling) and letting him dictate his new fashions and look and advise him on picking up lonely women in bars. The one he does pick up, Kate, the teacher (Marisa Tomei) has more than enough problems of her own, eventually compounding his.

The sub-plot focuses on Jacob and his being thrown off guard by his attraction for a young lawyer, Hannah (Emma Stone) and her love which challenges all his presuppositions.

There is another sub-plot, quite bizarre, more crazy and stupid behaviour than with the adults. Cal’s thirteen year old son is smitten with his 17 year old babysitter and becomes something of a stalker. She, meanwhile, has a crush on Cal which she act on.

It all comes to a head when the babysitter’ parents find out, some of the participants literally fighting head on, as the son’s behaviour comes to light and there is a plot twist which we didn’t see coming. After the brawl at home comes the son’s graduation from middle school where he is valedictorian and there is a scene which could take place only in a demonstrative, extravertedly crazy American setting.

In many ways, it is uncomfortable watching people behave like this, make mistakes, act cruelly and vindictively. But, to think that this does not reflect what many people go through would be avoiding the issues.

The cast is strong. There are some funny lines and moments even if it is a bit Americanly ‘out there’.

1. A romantic comedy, more serious undertones, adult focus?

2. The title, the focus on stupidity, the full stop at the end of the title?

3. A Los Angeles story, the city, homes and workplaces, bars and shops, apartments and schools? Realism? The various worlds within Los Angeles? The musical score?

4. Themes of relationships, good and bad, fidelity and infidelity, betrayal and the consequences, revenge and stupidity, risks, hurt? Lessons learnt? Hard lessons?

5. Cal and Emily, having the meal in the restaurant, Emily asking for a divorce, the impact on Cal, driving home, her continued talking, his threatening to jump out of the car, doing it? His blurting out the news when he got home? In front of Jessica? In front of Robbie? His apologies? Cal and his decision to leave, the truck with his goods, backing out, the tensions, buying the furniture, setting himself up?

6. Jacob and women, a womaniser, his techniques, his appearance and manner, talk? Watching Cal in the bar? Approaching him, their discussion, sharing? Cal and his trust in Jacob? The change? The change of clothes and Jacob’s comments? Hair? Asking women about attraction? The change in Cal, the response?

7. Cal and his anger at Emily, but especially against David Lindhagen? Telling everyone? People overhearing in the bar? The audience seeing David, in the workplace, with Emily? Emily’s explanation about the affair? Credible? Going out with him? The tension, being caught at the door kissing? David in himself, his intentions?

8. Cal and his new techniques, the advice of Jacob, approaching Kate in the bar, the conversation, the interactions, his awkwardness, her being a teacher, her drinking, going home, the night? Promising to phone? Her reaction? Her irony of being Robbie’s teacher, the tensions at the interview, creating a scene, Emily and her reaction, after the initial talk and the possibility of reconciliation? Their admiring their children? Kate and her overreaction in front of everyone?

9. Jacob, the new encounter with Hannah, the initial repulsion, Hannah and her friend, the discussion, resisting Jacob, thinking him cute? Her life, her studies, her graduation?

10. The effect of the audience not knowing that Hannah was Cal’s daughter? The sudden revelation?

11. Hannah, graduating, not getting a proposal, leaving the party, drinking, the encounter with Jacob, going home with him? Provocation? Talk, Jacob telling his story? The story of his family? Growing up? His being transformed? The jokes about his looking Photoshopped? His ringing Cal, advice?

12. Robbie, his age, the infatuation with Jessica, Jessica as the babysitter, age seventeen? Talk, her going into his room and catching him? His obsession, stalking? Telling his father? His father’s encouragement – without knowing it was Jessica? At school?

13. Jessica, babysitting, her infatuation with Cal, witnessing the incident about the divorce, his driving her home? Her parents, their hostility towards Cal? Her taking the provocative photos, hiding them in the drawer, her mother finding them?

14. Jessica’s family, her father and his not being allowed to talk to Cal? His complying with his wife? Her domination?

15. The discovery of the photos, the anger, going to the house, the accusations, the fight, the free-for-all?

16. Emily and her phoning Cal, his being in the garden, her pretending about the basement? His guiding her through it? His realisation that she loved him? His own love for her?

17. Cal, Emily and the fight? The potential for reconciliation?

18. Robbie’s graduation, his speech, Cal taking over, explaining his son? The soulmate?

19. Jessica, her talking with Robbie, giving him the picture?

20. The focus on each of the characters – and everybody reconciled (except Kate)?