The title of Steve Carrel’s latest romantic comedy pretty much encapsulates the story of the film. Complacent & content, 40-something Cal (Steve Carrel) gets the shock of his life when his wife Emily (Julianne Moore) asks for a divorce. Cal is shattered even more when he realises his wife, who he had fallen in love with since high school, cheated on him. Unable to figure out what went wrong with his ‘perfect’ married life, Cal tries to drown his sorrows by finding solace in alcohol.
Jacob (Ryan Gosling), a dashing womaniser spots Cal at the bar and offers help. He wants Cal to have his ‘manhood’ back so that he can woo his wife all over again. Out of the dating scene since high school, wingman Jacob gives a physical and mental makeover to Cal so that he becomes smooth with the ladies. Emily on the other hand contemplates her ‘divorce’ decision. She wonders if she is indeed in love with David (Kevin Bacon). Meanwhile, Cal’s teenage son Robbie in infatuated with his babysitter Jessica who he thinks is his ‘soul mate’. If these many romantic tracks are not enough, you have Hannah (Emma Stone) who too is heartbroken and so is Kate (Marissa Tomei), a school teacher.
After a lumbering start, to your relief, the film gets better as it progresses. Cal’s makeover session and chemistry with Jacob will remind you of Will Smith’s ‘Hitch’. The film which seems like just another rom-com also gets more original and unpredictable after a point. Multiple tracks, all facing ‘love’ problems run parallel throughout the film and then accidentally crisscross and culminate into a hilarious climax. A situational comedy, the film is crazy and stupid however lacks ‘love’ quotient. Everyone claims to truly love someone, although the ‘deep love’ is never felt. The scenes which try to highlight the ‘true love’ somehow seem shallow.
Don’t go looking for ‘love’ too much and the craziness and stupidity will keep you entertained.
