Tuesday 21 May 2013

Film Review: "Stuck in Love" (2012).


"A story of first loves and second chances." This is Stuck in Love. This romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Josh Boone in his directorial debut. Meet the Borgens. William Borgens is an acclaimed author who hasn't written a word since his ex-wife Erica left him 3 years ago for another man. In between spying on Erica and casual romps with his married neighbour Tricia, Bill is dealing with the complexities of raising his teenage children Samantha and Rusty. Samantha is publishing her first novel and is determined to avoid love at all costs - after all she's seen what it has done to her parents. In between hook ups, she meets "nice guy" Lou who will stop at nothing to win her over. Rusty, is an aspiring fantasy writer and Stephen King aficionado, who is on a quest to gain 'life experiences'. He falls for the beautiful, but troubled Kate and gets his first taste of love and a broken heart. A tale of family, love (lost and found), and how endings can make new beginnings. There are no rewrites in life, only second chances.

By early March 2012, it was announced that Jennifer Connelly, Greg Kinnear, Lily Collins, Nat Wolff, Logan Lerman, Kristen Bell, Liana Liberato, Spencer Breslin, and Patrick Schwarzenegger were cast in writer and director Boone's independent romantic comedy-drama. At the same time, principal photography commenced, and wrapped in early April. Filming took place throughout North Carolina under the working title Writers.

The film stars Connelly, Kinnear, Collins, Wolff, Lerman, Bell, Breslin, and Schwarzenegger. The cast balance grace with gravity, wit with heart. They were transcendent, pure and authentic. If Kinnear, Wolff, and Lerman are glibly charming and ultimately affecting, the film belongs to Connelly, Collins, and Liberato, performers who always seems to be backing warily into their own films. They are so captivating and genuine in their performances, they manage to make this intensely poignant film very moving, romantic and highly entertaining.

Stuck in Love is a sharp and emotionally-sophisticated romantic comedy that imbues its teenage characters with rare intelligence, and tackles its bleak subject matter with acerbic wit and tenderness. The film sets out to make you laugh—not just a little tiny chuckle, but laugh until you feel warm inside. It succeeds. Under the assured direction of Josh Boone, the film earns its emotions without grand manipulative gestures, and finds its heart through the fantastic cast and an effortless and appealing intimacy between the characters. The talented cast and crew enhance what is already some pretty good material, making the film a genuine romantic comedy that doesn't fall into a typical Hollywood weeper formula. In a laudable attempt to seem heartfelt without blatant manipulation, the film generally succeeds, thanks especially to winning performances from its cast. Heartfelt, sincere and altogether rather wonderful, the film will enchant audiences and leave behind very many laughs in its wake. The film is exceptionally high-quality mainstream entertainment, a genuine work of art.

Simon says Stuck in Love receives:


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