I'm wondering if this movie represents a new generation of romantic comedy. As the movie begins (since it is a romantic comedy), there are certain strands of the plot that the viewer knows will end a certain way. For instance (without giving too much away), the viewer is quite certain that the lady's man Jacob (Ryan Gosling) will undergo some kind of crisis, and we also seem to know that that crisis will involve Hannah (Emma Stone). Also, we know that the movie's premise is that Cal (Steve Carell) and Emily (Julianne Moore) are getting a divorce. Since that is how the movie begins, the viewer knows that their relationship will be explored further, even though there is apparent closure to their relationship. But at the same time, there were plot twists to this movie that seem unconventional.
At times, the mechanisms of the plot stretch believability. That is easily forgiven due to the overall likability of the characters and the lack of cynicism in the plot. The actors are all wonderful in their respective parts. Steve Carell sells his character well. He's a good man who loves him family, but has let some parts of his life get away from him. His wife asks him for a divorce, and he begins moping around in a local bar. While there, Jacob spots him, takes pity on him, and decides to train him to be a lady's man. We know two things in the plot. First, we are quite certain that something is going to upset Jacob's swinging bachelor life. Second, we know that things aren't quite over yet for Cal and Emily. This is a classic case of the journey being more the point than the destination. We know certain things about the destination (since this is a romantic comedy), but how the viewer arrives at the destination is more the point. There is also a great plot twist about 3/4 of the way through the movie that brings the movie together very well.
Overall, this is a somewhat routine movie about likable people. That is its strength. It doesn't try to do too much, and the movie has a confidence to it that makes it enjoyable. The movie also proves to be another fine example of Ryan Gosling's talents as an actor. He truly is a chameleon. He inhabits roles, and here we never doubt that he has become the character. However, since the character undergoes extensive development, he also has to show a great deal of complexity to the character, and he nails it. As a father of a daughter, I also reacted well to a key father daughter relationship that will go unnamed. The movie tries to do a little too much with Cal's teenage son. In trying to extend the love dilemma to him, the film loses some of its veracity. However, it does give us a very sympathetic 13 year old boy, rather than the latent perverts that 13 year old boys are often shown to be in movies.
This is a movie that is able to be both light and substantial. It is a good piece if work, and definitely a good movie if you want some light entertainment that isn't too light.
