Tell whomever your going with that you heard the directing was fantastic, performances were beyond stellar and the script is as solid a script as you could come across, which is all true. But know the real reason you are going to see this movie is that wonderful piece of eye candy known as Ryan Gosling, who had us at “The Notebook”, but for the first time you’ll sit up and take notice of this beautiful speciman of a man. And that’s why you should see this movie. Hubba hubba. 

The movie hits you right in the face with the first scene seen in the trailer. On the count of three Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) and wife Emily (Julianne Moore) are supposed to say what they want for dessert at a restaurant. He says Creme Brulee and she says, “a divorce”. She further adds that she slept with a co-worker, Dave Lindhagen (Kevin Bacon), leading Cal to give up on the marriage and walk away. But when he meets smoooove talking ladies man, Jacob (Ryan Gossling), he is taken under Jacob’s wing and pygmalioned back into his manhood. Cal comes to realizes after, count ‘em, nine one night stands, that Emily really is his soul mate and worth fighting for.   

What a cast. Has Steve Carell ever been more sublime? The pathos his character Cal evokes in every scene is rich, sincere and funny, not over the top as many comedic actors do. He is never more tender than when his eyes well up but don’t tear; never more loveable in a scene when he sticks up for his son. This is the man, the dad all of us should have been born with and the lucky of us have. Julianne Moore is likeable in a very tough role as the bad guy here. There’s a charm to her run of the mouth scenes and you get her struggle knowing that they’ve met in high school, have never been with anyone else and the fire has gone out of the marriage. 

Kevin Bacon is such a pleasure to see back on the big screen. Another tough role and his performace as the boring accountant who has fallen in love with Emily is dead on. Analeigh Tipton, Jonah Bobo, and Marissa Tomei round out this powerhouse cast and add some nice depth to the movie and some great comedic moments by the wonderful Ms. Tomei. 

Now back to Gosling. Who knew his face with age could transform into such chiseled strenght around eyes that could tell a deeper, even darker meaning. Who knew when he took off his shirt, the body beneath could stop the hearts of female audience members (and some men too). And who knew that he could pull out a performance that with one question to love interest Hannah (Emma Stone) – “Ask me a personal question”, the entire audience’s heart would break for this character. Comedic and acting chops he has in full force to go toe to toe barbs with Carell in a buddy movie that surprises. Emma Stone’s character, Hannah is a neurotic law student who is smart enough out of all the women Jacob has ever been with, even while drunk, to break down his walls. As he later tells Cal, she is the woman who changed his ways. There’s real chemistry between the two and any other actress might have taken those scenes together and turned them sappy or schmaltzy, but Stone is as always, refreshingly quirky. With “The Help” about to come out next weekend, Stone is quickly turning into Hollywood’s current it girl. 

What can I say about Dan Fogelman’s smart script?  Possesing funny moments and a solid, sweet heart to the story, the biggest kudo is there’s one plot twist you will never see coming. A rarity in a movie these days. In spite of this movie being about the break up of a marriage with kids being at its core, Fogelman deftly keeps it light enough and not maudlin. This movie is lovely and fun. I highly recommend you to go see it. 

Check out the trailer: