How To Be Witty

'Crazy Stupid Love' Review: Great Performances, Witty Script

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He may want to look over his shoulder at Steve Carell to figure it all out, for Carell appears to have taken over the title of America’s Favorite Everyman from Hanks. It’s not just that Carell shares Hanks’ genuine relatability and genial everyday charm, but likely also the fact that one is hard-pressed to find Carell forcing his political opinions on movie fans and telling them how to vote. He just shows up and does a great job, often weaving tales of sympathetic characters who ultimately try to do the right thing even amid a world that seems to reward doing the wrong thing – and making us laugh like crazy in the process. 

And so it is that “Crazy Stupid Love” marks the latest Carell film to hit the multiplex, this time backed by a stellar ensemble cast with Oscar nominees Ryan Gosling and Julianne Moore, Oscar winner Marisa Tomei, fast-rising star Emma Stone and the perennially popular Kevin Bacon – all of whom are intertwined in surprising ways as they each search for their own form of true love. The difference between this film and utter dreck like “Valentine’s Day” and “He’s Just Not That Into You” is that “Crazy” is genuinely funny and touching with well-drawn and acted portrayals of people who seem real, rather than merely looking like it’s weaving stories just to hit all the marketing demographics in existence. 

The film kicks off with a bang as average suburban couple Cal Weaver (Carell) and his wife Emily (Moore) are having a seemingly romantic dinner. But when Carell says they should each blurt out what they want at the same time, he shouts “Dessert!” while she yells, “A divorce!” 

Needless to say, this comes as a shock to Cal, who agrees instantly to move out and starts getting drunk in a bar alone. That is, until he meets Jacob Palmer (Gosling), a top-notch ladies’ man who offers to get Cal back in the dating game via coaching him on everything from better wardrobe choices to killer pickup lines. Soon, Cal is a ladies’ man sowing his wild oats –including a hilarious hookup with a gloriously unhinged Tomei -  after sleeping with just one woman his entire life thus far. 

Meanwhile, Emily is torn between the desire for midlife excitement that led her to sleep with David Lindhagen (Bacon) and her guilt over abandoning her marriage and leaving her troubled 13-year-old son Robbie (Jonah Bobo) and younger daughter feeling adrift without a father in the house. As Robbie himself tries to woo the babysitter (Analeigh Tipton) who’s 17 and looks down on him while pining for Cal, Jacob meets his romantic match in a young woman named Hannah (Stone) who sees through his seductive games and has a big secret of her own.

Comment of the Week: Witty Describes Ohio Leadership Convention ...

Hey guys, thanks for helping a big, (although young and gullible) dreamer open his eyes and finally take a look at Team from a different perspective. After what I’ve read on this site, it’s just a matter of time before I sever my ties with the business for good. I have a ticket to the major at the end of this month, so I think I’ll go to that (especially the way they keep hyping it up….might as well see what they’re going to be trying next if i already “invested” in my ticket). They’ve hyped the darn thing up enough that even someone on the way out feels compelled to see what’s happening, which either means something big might actually happen, or they’re grasping for whatever they can get (who knows)

To the former team leaders who have been posting I have some questions. At what level did you start to realize that the business wasn’t quite all it’s cracked up to be? Was it only after closer encounters with your “moving on upline” and pc members? I ask because the highest leader I encounter on a consistent basis is a silver (mostly hang with bronzes and star 1000s) and I just can’t imagine that they would still be as psyched as they seem to be if they knew about the experiences you guys have been talking about. I’ve brought up this site and others and was told that most of the info was largely fictional, which I find somewhat difficult to believe. But yeah I’m still attending opens and seminars, but have stopped it with CDs because all they do is get me excited to be loose with my wallet and go out and buy more and more and more (i’m sure I’m some of these profit sharers dream guy….young, naïve, excitable, nice little savings account etc.) In my heart I feel like leaving is going to be the best decision for me. I’m a very happy person in general, but thinking about still going to opens and such makes me feel queesy…the only time I feel negative is when thinking about Team. Of course the system would attribute that to me not being willing to step outside of my comfort zone to chase my dream, but I think life will again begin to be colorful once again once people become people again instead of “prospects.” Anywho I tend to ramble so sorry for the long post, if you could address some of what I said I’d much appreciate!

Peace and Love!

Readers on this blog provided Witty with their perspective based on their own TEAM experiences. There are always two sides to every story. People who are looking at joining (or quitting) TEAM should always consider both when deciding what to do.

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