Like Crazy

"Weak"

Like Crazy Review


With a deliberately wistful style, this romantic drama never quite convinces us that its central couple is actually in love. There are several wonderfully telling moments along the way, but the over-constructed plot and too-cute cuddle fest just get increasingly annoying.

Furniture designer Jacob (Yelchin) meets aspiring writer Anna (Jones) at university in Los Angeles, and their adorable romance develops over their final year studying before Anna has to return to Britain for a wedding. But she has overstayed her American visa, so when she tries to return she's deported. Over the next few years they see each other whenever they can while getting on with their lives and careers. Jacob starts a relationship with Samantha (Lawrence), while Anna flirts with her neighbour Simon (Bewley). But they can't get each other out of their hearts.

The film starts off well, with an edgy tone, improv-style dialog and an offhanded awkwardness that's charming. But it never develops beyond this: Jacob and Anna are sweet and sexless, and the film shies away from physical intimacy between them (the only sex scenes are with their other partners). This is a problem because, with all of their cuddling, wrestling, pillow-fighting and splashing each other in the bath, they're more like brother and sister than star-crossed lovers.

And as they mope around, trying to make sense of the cruelty of fate, the people around them are more fun to watch, including Anna's lively parents (Kingston and Muirhead). That said, Jones and Yelchin have enough spark to undercut the relentlessly downbeat tone. Although the script gives them no help at all, as they're left playing friendless people who simply can't talk about their feelings or get on with their lives after making one seriously bad decision.

But if this is such a timeless romance, there's clearly a simple solution. But the sexist script insists that Anna has to move, when legally she can't. And even though there are some realistic emotions raised here and there, the cliched mechanics of the plot always kick in for another random disagreement, petty jealousy or relational wrinkle. So by the end, only undemanding moviegoers will be able to care.



Like Crazy

Facts and Figures

Run time: 90 mins

In Theaters: Friday 27th January 2012

Box Office USA: $3.4M

Box Office Worldwide: $1.1M

Budget: $250 thousand

Distributed by: Paramount Pictures

Production compaines: Paramount Vantage, Andrea Sperling Productions, Indian Paintbrush, Super Crispy Entertainment, Ascension Productions

Reviews

Contactmusic.com: 2 / 5

Rotten Tomatoes: 72%
Fresh: 105 Rotten: 40

IMDB: 6.7 / 10

Cast & Crew

Director: Drake Doremus

Starring: as Jacob, as Anna, as Sam, as Simon, as Jackie, Oliver Muirhead as Bernard, Finola Hughes as Liz, as Mike Appletree, Ben York Jones as Ross, as Isabelle

Contactmusic


Links


New Movies

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie Review

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie Review

After the thunderous reception for J.J. Abrams' Episode VII: The Force Awakens two years ago,...

Daddy's Home 2 Movie Review

Daddy's Home 2 Movie Review

Like the 2015 original, this comedy plays merrily with cliches to tell a silly story...

The Man Who Invented Christmas Movie Review

The Man Who Invented Christmas Movie Review

There's a somewhat contrived jauntiness to this blending of fact and fiction that may leave...

Ferdinand Movie Review

Ferdinand Movie Review

This animated comedy adventure is based on the beloved children's book, which was published in...

Brigsby Bear Movie Review

Brigsby Bear Movie Review

Director Dave McCary makes a superb feature debut with this offbeat black comedy, which explores...

Battle of the Sexes Movie Review

Battle of the Sexes Movie Review

A dramatisation of the real-life clash between tennis icons Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs,...

Shot Caller Movie Review

Shot Caller Movie Review

There isn't much subtlety to this prison thriller, but it's edgy enough to hold the...

Advertisement
The Disaster Artist Movie Review

The Disaster Artist Movie Review

A hilariously outrageous story based on real events, this film recounts the making of the...

Stronger Movie Review

Stronger Movie Review

Based on a true story about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, this looks like one...

Only the Brave Movie Review

Only the Brave Movie Review

Based on a genuinely moving true story, this film undercuts the realism by pushing its...

Wonder Movie Review

Wonder Movie Review

This film may be based on RJ Palacio's fictional bestseller, but it approaches its story...

Happy End  Movie Review

Happy End Movie Review

Austrian auteur Michael Haneke isn't known for his light touch, but rather for hard-hitting, award-winning...

Patti Cake$ Movie Review

Patti Cake$ Movie Review

Seemingly from out of nowhere, this film generates perhaps the biggest smile of any movie...

The Limehouse Golem Movie Review

The Limehouse Golem Movie Review

A Victorian thriller with rather heavy echoes of Jack the Ripper, this film struggles to...

Advertisement
Artists
Actors
    Filmmakers
      Artists
      Bands
        Musicians
          Artists
          Celebrities
             
              Artists
              Interviews