This weekend I went to see Crazy, Stupid, Love. I had anxiously awaited for this movie to come out, so naturally I went the Friday it opened. This movie captivates you from the second it starts, and I found myself so engaged with the story that I forgot I was in the theater. I brought these along to munch on, as well as some Red Licorice from the concessions stand.

Just to quickly catch you up, Crazy, Stupid, Love, is about a 40-something-year old man, Cal, who learns that his wife, Emily, wants a divorce. Having been with Emily since high school, Cal is heartbroken and is left to fend for himself. That is, until he meets Jacob, an effortlessly smooth player. Jacob teaches Cal all that there is to picking up women and having style. Cal’s son, Robbie, has a crush on his older teenage babysitter, Jessica, and is determined to win her over. Jacob meets a girl named Hannah who captivates him. Each couple, in their own way, deals with love and what it means to not give up on someone.

First things first, this was an unbelievable cast. With Steve Carell, Julianne Moore, Marisa Tomei, Emma Stone, and Ryan Gosling, Crazy, Stupid, Love reaches out to a wide-ranged audience. To my right was an older couple while in front of me was what looked like a group of 15-year-olds. The cast has an appeal for people of all ages, yet no matter what age you are, you adore every single cast member. Steve Carell was hilarious as always, but we see a more sensitive and serious side to him as well. Emma Stone is a strong and mature female in this movie, and almost steals the entire show. But then there’s Ryan Gosling, who flaunts his humor, abs, and sensitive side when the time is right.

The stories in this film are well-developed. The idea of having a soul mate and fighting for the one you love resonated with many people in the audience. When I go to the movies, I want a great love story. Better yet, a realistic yet still great happy love story. While many movies portray unattainable love stories, Crazy, Stupid, Love feels honest and raw. There were many scenes in the movie that were so unbelievably real, clever, and sweet that I never wanted it to end.

I can’t say enough good things about this movie, and I’ll probably spend the $20 when it comes out on DVD. This will definitely become a modern classic love film like The Notebook (Ryan Gosling must have that effect on people). You go in thinking it’s going to be a good movie, and you leave knowing it’s a fantastic movie.