 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Crazy, Stupid, Love.
- Review Date: July 29, 2011
- PG-13
- Genre: Drama
- 2011
Common Sense Media says
Heartfelt dramedy has strong story and characters.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this affecting, refreshing dramedy about a man re-entering the dating life after decades and finding himself in the process deals head-on with some mature subjects, including infidelity and the art of seduction. Plenty of scenes show a guy teaching another how to pick up women and then actually doing so. That said, the actual sex scenes, which involve no nudity beyond a guy taking his shirt off and clothed couples kissing and straddling each other, are fairly tame. There's also a fair bit of social drinking and swearing (including "f--k" and "s--t"), and a teen character takes risqué pictures of herself.
What's the story?
Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) has been in love with his wife, Emily (Julianne Moore), since high school, marrying her at 17. So it's no understatement to say that his world falls to pieces when she declares over dinner at a restaurant that she has strayed and thinks she wants a divorce. Cal has no idea how to be single, spending his first few weeks perched on a bar stool at a nightclub he'd passed many times but never had the guts to enter. The entire scene is foreign to him ... until confident Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling), a certified womanizer who can persuade almost any girl to go home with him, takes Cal under his wing and decides to teach him how to take interest in both himself and other women. But even Jacob isn't immune to the charms of that someone special -- in this case, Hannah (Emma Stone), on whom his usual approach doesn't seem to work. Meanwhile, Cal's 13-year-old son (Jonah Bobo) is in love with his 17-year-old babysitter (Annaleigh Tipton), who happens to be smitten with Cal.
Is it any good?
Despite hewing fairly closely to romcom and buddy comedy conventions -- it's both, with a huge heaping of drama, too -- CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE is surprising, engaging, and astute about humans and relationships and nearly everything else that matters. Carrell and Gosling are fantastic; neither overplays or underplays. Instead, they seem genuinely comfortable in their movie skins, living their roles rather than "acting" them. (It's nice to see Gosling act hilarious for a change.)
Actually, the entire cast is strong, notably Moore as a genuinely bereft, confused, searching woman who has grown tired of the routine but doesn't quite know how to fix it, and Stone, who sells her character with ease -- she's truly gifted. The best part, however, is the story itself. It's finely attuned to the ways in which complacency erodes our confidence and strips us of the urge to learn and discover. Being stuck in one place too long can doom marriages -- and ourselves.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about how the movie portrays marriage problems. Is it realistic or "Hollywoodized"? How do problems between spouses affect a family?
Why is Jacob's seduction formula so successful? Does the movie glamorize this, or is it making a statement about such trickery?
A teen character takes some racy pictures of herself. What are the real-life consequences of that kind of action? Parents, talk to your kids about sexting and other potentially inappropriate behavior.
- Show:
- All members
- Parents
- Teens & kids
AGE
Smart movie but with certain inappropriate parts
It was a smart movie with a lot of surprises BUT too much sexuality. I found creepy the whole subplot where a 17 year old girl has a crash on a married 40-something and takes naked pictures of herself to give to th emarried man and then she ends-up giving these naked pictures to a 13 year old boy who had a crush on her...and this behavior is presented as OK!! I don't want my 11-12 year old getting any ideas that such a behavior is OK!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
For Mature Tweens & Up
This movie was a little disappointing, but it was funny at the same time. A teen girl prints nude pictures of herself to give to a man much older than her..... old enough to be her father. Plus, about 80% of the entire movie is about one man trying to help another man find a women to have sex with. A married woman sleeps with another man off screen.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Very offensive movie
I walked out of this movie half way through, although from the very opening scene I was uncomfortable and just should have left then. I can't believe people think this kind of a movie is entertainment, I was shocked and offended the whole time. The language was terrible, the messages were negative and depressing, the whole movie was so degrading. I can't believe the ages of some of the people who put in positive reviews. Parents, wake up and teach your kids some standards!!
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Innapropriate, but explainable
People want disfuctional relationships. Media never wants to show the beauty of it. Though this is PG-13, this is still iffy for teens. There is a lot of partying. And this may look appealing to your teens, just because people drink. That is what encourages teens to drink is they just because they want to be in the movies. This movie is very racy too. Teenagers will find that appealing, but they make sex what it isn't. But this movie wouldn't have sold any tickets if there wasn't any sex or partying. It's such an important part of the plot.
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 12 years old
August 11, 2011
AGE
Crazy Stupid Love = Crazy Funny!!!!
I loved this movie (: !! There was one F word, and you see Ryan Gossling almost completly naked four or five times, and theres one or two iffy scenes, but thats about it! It was really funny (:
Was this review useful?
|
|
Kid, 11 years old
August 22, 2011
AGE
great for people who like romantic comedies!
my parents saw the movie. they thought it was funny.I ask them if i could watch it,but they said it's NOT for my age.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Teenage Film
This movie is a very fun and charming film. It does show alcohol consumption and sexual scenes. Make sure your child is mature enough to handle the idea of a "player" and why that kind of behavior is wrong.
Was this review useful?
|
|
AGE
Little mature, but great movie!
Funny, sweet, perfect movie. Loved it! Take mature teens becaues there is some sexual stuff, but it's not too bad.
Was this review useful?
|
|
| Studio: | Warner Bros. |
| Directors: | Glenn Ficarra, John Requa |
| Cast: | Emma Stone, Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 107 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 29, 2011 |
| DVD release date: | November 1, 2011 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | coarse humor, sexual content and language |
Review It
Video review
Great alternatives handpicked by our editors
Already seen it? What do you think?
More from Common Sense Media
Top advice and articles
