Original review – September 18, 2011 | Updated review August 12, 2013
Updated review****
This movie is a classic. I had a couple of original problems based on my initial view. The preview made it seem like it would be a completely different movie. I hadn’t prepared myself for the violence or all of the overlapping storylines that were going on. I thought I would watch Ryan Gosling drive bad guys around and avoid the police. The movie trailer is essentially the film’s first five minutes (nothing more, nothing less). I expected something different, which is why my initial review was lower than it is now.
I loved Gosling and Mulligan. I loved the way the unspoken attraction they had for one another. I loved how Gosling did everything he could, not getting attached to somebody he couldn’t just walk away from in five minutes, but how circumstances kept driving them together to the point where he would do anything to keep them happy and safe.
What is there to say about a perfect movie?
As long as there is an opportunity for profit, classic movies will continue to be redone, rebooted, and have unneeded sequels attached. That is a fact of life. If you hope this doesn’t happen to your favorite movie because you don’t want the original tarnished, don’t hold your breath. It’s not a question of if but a matter of when. The original Texas Chainsaw Massacre (released in 1974 and directed by Tobe Hooper – Salem’s Lot, Poltergeist) is one of those classics. It’s a film beloved by critics and audiences alike. It’s become a cult movie that almost all moviegoers (horror fans or not) will undoubtedly see at least once. When we hear the name Leatherface, we instantly visualize a deformed madman chasing unsuspecting teens through the woods with a chainsaw. There have been and will continue to be sequels, remakes, and other movies that hope to ride the coattails of the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Crazy, Stupid, Love. is a terrific, lighthearted romantic comedy. In many of my reviews, I’ve stated that 2010 was the best year for movie releases, despite not having that one super scary or laugh-out-loud funny movie that you would expect a great year to have, I have also noted this to be the case. While 2011 has yet to come close to measuring up to 2010 (based on what I’ve been seeing/reading about the fall/award season releases), it has had some good movies. It’s had three films already that I would put in my Top 20 comedies of all time. I don’t think any of these are in that Top 10 range, but 
In 2011’s Horrible Bosses, four of this decade’s best actors (Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Aniston, and Collin Farrell) take a backseat to the film’s three stars. The plot of this movie revolves around three friends. Nick (Jason Bateman – Juno, television’s Arrested Development), Kurt (Jason Sudeikis –