I don't know whether to help you or euthanize you.

Crazy, Stupid, Love

(2011)

Glen Ficarra and John Requa wrote Bad Santa and wrote/directed the amusing and unrestrained I Love You Phillip Morris. They're directing from someone else's script here, and in PG-13 territory, but for a Hollywood romcom this is still a cut above most Jennifer Aniston/Katherine Heigl crap.

Steve Steve Carrell (excellent, effortlessly transtioning from hilarity to gravitas within scenes) is told by Julianne Moore that she wants a divorce. He ends up frequenting a bar where pick-up artist Ryan Gosling takes pity on him and teaches him how to score with the chicks. Gosling meanwhile is smitten with cute Emma Roberts, who isn't remotely hooked by his babe-baiting technique.

Which all sounds a bit cheesy. Which it would be if not for the performances. Certainly, a sub-plot involving Carrell's son's obsession with the babysitter and the babysitter's obsession with Carrell is unnecessary filler and unconvincing. And Kevin Bacon's suitor (of Moore) has hardly anything to do. Better catered for is Marisa Tomei's recovering alcoholic one-night stand, who proves to be unforgivingly caustic towards Carrell. There's also a third act twist that I didn't see coming, even though I knew that there was a third act twist coming. It's a clever development too, even if it ends up leading nowhere especially original.

***

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