My short review would be: Not enough Crazy, thankfully not very Stupid, could have used more Love.  What that translates to is that this dramatic comedy directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa does not quite fulfill its title.  Sure, it’s about the state of love in the modern American world, but most of what it has to say is neither fresh nor profound.  What it does say, however, is done in a very entertaining manner — and it even surprised me a few times.

Married couple Julianne Moore and Steve Carell part when she admits an affair. Lonely Carell develops a friendship with ladies’ man Ryan Gosling, who — for no real discernible reason besides boredom — decides to remake Carell in his own image.  Of course, the shallow Gosling eventually finds his soulmate while Carell tries to regain his.  It’s all very pat, especially involving Gosling’s rather unrealistic turnaround.

And yet, it works more often than not.  Carell and Gosling are charming performers who, like the pros they are, make the material seem better than it actually is.  The women tend to steal their scenes — Moore, Marisa Tomei, Emma Stone and especially Analeigh Tipton, as the babysitter.  The family dynamics are convincing and there is one delicious backyard scene when everything finally comes to a head that is both dramatically solid and pretty darn funny as well.

Because of its charm, and because Dan Fogelman’s script hides its surprises very effectively, I recommend the film.  It is not groundbreaking in any way, but it is better than many other dramadies of the past few years.  If you liked Carell in Dan in Real Life a few years ago, you should appreciate this.  ✰ ✰ ✰.  30 Sept. 2011.