Like Crazy (film)

After watching The Parks of being a Wallflower, I was inspired to continue the trend of young love.  A friend recommended watching Like Crazy as a slight change of pace.  Despite falling into the young love category, it's was a darker and bittersweet tale. A sharp contrast to The Parks of Being a Wallflower.

Jacob

Like Crazy is about Jacob and Anna, two college students who find themselves falling head over heels for each other.  Anna is originally from England and is studying in the L.A. area.  Jacob and Anna begin a wonderful love affair.  In time, Anna has to head back to the U.K.  So madly in love, she stays past her visa time limit.  This seemingly innocent lapse of judgement follows the pair for the remainder of the film, as they struggle find a way to live with an ocean between them.  The love they first felt follows them everywhere they go and they struggle individually to find a way to live with such a huge part of themselves missing.

Good - Like Crazy was a tough film to watch.  By tough, I mean challenging, more so then being bad.    The love and adoration between Jacob and Anna is touching and charming.  At the beginning, the love they share gives you hope.  Seeing them struggle later to recapture that magic feels justified.  You are there with them when everything clicked in the beginning.  And you want them to get it back.  The challenge of the film is knowing how cruel reality can be.  Despite the effort, despite the patience, Jacob and Anna look to be on the losing side.  The reward of a fairy tale love just seems too far.
If this all sounds depressing, it is.  You have a heart! Watching Like Crazy was powerful in it's portrayal of blind young love meeting reality in head on.

Anna

Bad - It was tough to watch Like Crazy at times.  I felt there were a large number of scenes of seeing various couples just snuggling and general PDA.  I understand this was mostly likely to show the innocence and intimacy of the affection that was present.  Still, it got to be grating.  For a 90 minute movie, I feel about 20 minutes were scenes of Jacob and Anna being gushy, with no real dialouge or plot progression.  I hate that stuff in real life, so seeing it in a film that's meant to entertain was quite annoying.   Other then that, I can't find anything bad enough to write about.

Jennifer Lawrence shows up as Sam

Overall - I recommend this film but under certain conditions.  Don't expect to be uplifted after watching this film.  It doesn't have a happy ending, to say the least.  The way you listen to depressing music when you're down, Like Crazy is the film equivalent.  It is powerful but you need to make sure you handle this film responsibly.  3.5 out of 5 stars.

Similar To - The Pursuit of Happyness

The Giant Mechanical Man (film)

Look it up on IMDB

For this week, I was trying really hard to write a new review.  My problem was I had no idea what to write.  There wasn't anything specific calling out to me.  So after spending way too much time debating and comparing, I picked The Giant Mechanical Man.  It didn't seem particularly interesting, but it had Jenna Fischer in it, and Netflix had guessed I would give it 4 stars.  So I took the gamble.

Janice, played by Jenna Fischer

The Giant Mechanical Man, directed by Lee Kirk, stars Jenna Fischer as Janice and Chris Messina as Tim.  Two 30-somethings trying to figure out how to fit in the world, if they do at all.  Tim is a street performer, trying to find a way to make a living from his one talent.  At her wits end, Tim's girlfriend leaves him, forcing Tim into a state of confusion and aimlessness.  Janice is trying to figure out where she can do any good for the world.  Fired from the temp agency she works at and evicted from her tiny city apartment, she is forced to stay in her sister's house.  The sister tries to set her up with a pompous author (Topher Grace). Tim and Janice, both down on their luck, get jobs at the zoo.  Soon a friendship begins budding and eventually blooms into a full romance.

Chris Messina as Tim

Good - This film was very enjoyable.  I actually was dreading watching this.  Based on the plot description, I was expecting a grown up version of Tiny Furniture.  Which I loathed.  Instead, I was treated to some great performances by Fichser and Messina.  They both were very charming and endearing, key traits you need in a movie like this.  It's the difference between the audience loving or hating you.  You really feel for them and want them to be happy, no matter what it takes.  Quite an acting feat.

Another really great trait about this film was the plot and direction.  Janice and Tim are both genuinely confused why people can be so callous and mean.  Kirk was really able to show that.  We see the world though Janice and Tim's eyes, as opposed to seeing something else, and thinking both of them are just overly sensitive.  We see how careless people can be with their words. The plot was rewarding in its ability to maintain some pleasant tension.  In a way, there are two stories going on, but both involve Janice and Tim.  It's fun and exciting to watch how things shake out for them.

Lastly, it's not explicitly said, but the filmed was shot on location in Detroit and Royal Oak.  So being the local Detroiter I am, it was fun trying to see where they were. 

Janice and Tim enjoying each other's company

Bad - For the mood I was in and the expectations I had beforehand, I was very pleasantly surprised with The Giant Mechanical Man.  I have nothing negative to say.

Working away at the (Royal Oak) zoo

Overall - I recommend this film.  It's fun, uplifting, hopeful and a really good date movie.  It is nothing ground breaking or award winning but is rewarding to watch.  The Giant Mechanical Man should be in your queue and watched at some point.  Soon, for you love birds celebrating Valentine's day!  4 out of 5 stars. 

Similar To - Juno, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, (500) Days of Summer, Garden State