Crazy, Stupid, Love.

Cal Weaver, a fortysomething insurance salesman in Los Angeles, has a comfortable life: a long marriage to Emily, two children, and a house in the suburbs. That life shatters over dinner when Emily confesses she has had an affair with a coworker, David Lindhagen, and wants a divorce. Cal, stunned, jumps out of the moving car and soon finds himself living alone, adrift and pathetic, drowning his sorrows at a sleek bar with vodka-cranberries.

Jacob Palmer, a handsome and impeccably dressed womanizer who works the same bar nightly, takes pity on Cal and offers to remake him. Under Jacob's tutelage, Cal sheds his dad jeans and sneakers, learns to groom and talk to women, and becomes a successful pickup artist. But his new lifestyle feels hollow as he still pines for Emily, who is now dating David. Meanwhile, separate stories unfold: Cal's 13-year-old son Robbie is hopelessly in love with his 17-year-old babysitter Jessica, who secretly has a crush on Cal; and Hannah, a sharp law student, meets Jacob at the bar and sees through his smooth routine, leading to a genuine connection that surprises them both.

Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa from a script by Dan Fogelman, the film balances multiple storylines with a deft touch. Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, and Emma Stone lead an ensemble cast that includes Kevin Bacon, Marisa Tomei, and Jonah Bobo. Produced on a $50 million budget, the movie earned over $145 million worldwide and earned a 78% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising its sharp writing and emotional depth. [edit]

Cal Weaver believes in soulmates. He has been married to Emily for 25 years, and they have two children: 13-year-old Robbie and younger daughter Molly. One evening at dinner, Emily drops a bombshell: she wants a divorce because she has been having an affair with a coworker, David Lindhagen. Cal, too shocked to process the news, jumps out of the moving car as Emily tries to explain.

Devastated and adrift, Cal moves into a sparse apartment and begins frequenting an upscale bar, where he sits alone nursing vodka-cranberries and wallowing in self-pity. He catches the attention of Jacob Palmer, a handsome, impeccably dressed womanizer who effortlessly picks up women night after night. Jacob takes pity on this pathetic middle-aged man and decides to take him on as a project. He teaches Cal how to dress, groom, talk, and seduce women. Under Jacob's tutelage, Cal transforms his appearance, adopts pickup lines, and begins having a string of one-night stands, including an awkward encounter with his son's teacher Kate.

Meanwhile, several interconnected stories unfold. Robbie, Cal and Emily's son, is desperately in love with his 17-year-old babysitter Jessica, who in turn harbors a secret crush on Cal. Jessica takes photos of herself and fantasizes about Cal, while Robbie makes grand romantic gestures like writing love letters and reciting poetry, all of which Jessica gently rebuffs.

Separately, Hannah is a smart, ambitious law student about to take the bar exam. She is in a comfortable but passionless relationship with Richard, a dull but stable lawyer. One night at the same bar where Jacob holds court, Hannah meets Jacob, who tries his smooth pickup routine on her. She sees through it immediately and shoots him down. But after her boyfriend reveals his true colors in a humiliating way, Hannah finds herself spending the night talking with Jacob, and the two connect on a surprisingly genuine level, sharing their life stories rather than sleeping together.

Cal's transformation succeeds almost too well. He becomes a confident ladies' man, but his newfound success feels hollow. He still pines for Emily, who is now dating David. Emily, for her part, begins to regret her decision as she sees Cal moving on. The film weaves these threads together, building toward a climactic convergence where all the characters' secrets are exposed in a single, chaotic scene.[edit]