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Critics single out memorable performances by Ryan Gosling and Steve Carell in this 'crazy smart film.'
By Kara Warner

Ryan Gosling in "Crazy, Stupid, Love."
Photo: WB

Although the summer season is packed with big, noisy, CGI-enhanced blockbusters, studio executives are wise to the fact that not everyone wants to see flashy, action-heavy films, so they smartly offer up counter-programming in the form of romantic comedies. This week's star-studded "Crazy, Stupid, Love." is a perfect example, underscored by its 74 percent "fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes.

The film revolves around Cal Weaver (Steve Carell), whose wife (Julianne Moore) has recently announced her infidelity (the "other man" is played by Kevin Bacon) and requested a divorce. Cal takes his sorrows to a singles' bar, where he's adopted by local ladies' man Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling). Jacob educates Cal in the new ways of wooing the ladies, and although Cal picks up some decent skills, his heart is in the wrong place: He's looking for that elusive true love, a soul mate.

Cal is also dealing with the fact that his adolescent son Robbie (Jonah Bobo) is in love with his teenage babysitter (Analeigh Tipton), who in turn is in love with Cal. Meanwhile, Jacob eventually realizes that he's still pining for the woman (Emma Stone) who got away.

Critics seem to be most pleased with the film's ensemble cast, with only a few grumbles about clichéd plot twists and turns. Without further ado, let's dive into the "Crazy, Stupid, Love." reviews.

The Story
"Just because it stars smart actors and isn't aggressively dumb doesn't automatically make it good, and while 'Crazy, Stupid, Love.' works in fits and starts, its wildly inconsistent tone and Dan Fogelman's overwritten screenplay make it too frustrating to properly enjoy. Every time one of the many plot threads hits its stride, another careens wildly out of control, leading up to a conclusion so clichéd it seems the movie has moved into parody." — Katey Rich, Cinema Blend

Ensemble Cast and Performances
"Frequently, the zaniness stops and some genuinely impressive acting breaks out. The accomplished Moore is an obvious candidate and, even in a confined role, she delivers — here a nervous look, there a tender gesture. Cast against type, his customarily troubled characters, Gosling is all dressed up (and occasionally undressed) in a fashion guaranteed to set hearts aflutter. But the guy is too skilled to settle for a hunky stereotype; rather, he rescues the roué from cliché by adding a certain delicacy, a repressed yet palpable sensitivity. ... Although not in their performing league, Carell is blessed to have a faint hint of Buster Keaton in his otherwise handsome face — a mug whose deadpan stare is fraught with comic nuance. Even the kid actor is a cut above here. Jonah Bobo brings to Robbie that adolescent knack of travelling at warp speed from deep cynicism to idealistic innocence." — Rick Groen, The Globe and Mail

The Final Word
"It's hard to ignore the fact that very little in the movie feels true — no one clicks as a couple, and there are carefully contrived coincidences around every corner. ... But while the filmmakers bungle the romance, they handle the comedy with skillful precision. I laughed all the way through, thanks to both consistently clever dialogue and deft delivery from Carell and Gosling, who clearly relished a chance to flex his comic muscles." — Elizabeth Weitzman, Daily News

"This film is the total of all its parts, from the string-bean beauty Tipton to the sly adolescent Bobo and all the veterans. It's notable that no one — not even Bacon's character — is a villain in this film. They're all just people looking for, wrestling with and falling in love. ... This is the sort of film that Oscar generally ignores come awards season. It shouldn't. "Crazy, Stupid, Love," is a crazy smart film." — Tom Long, Detroit News

Check out everything we've got on "Crazy, Stupid, Love."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

Related Photos

'Crazy, Stupid, Love' Charms At The New York City Premiere

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1668179/crazy-stupid-love-reviews.jhtml

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Ally

See Inside Will & Jada Pinkett Smith's Massive Malibu Home - toofab

Leonardo DiCaprio and Blake Lively hit the streets of NYC - ICYDK

Who's on The Highest Earning Actors List? - Celebuzz

10 Signs You're a Helicopter Mom - lilSugar

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10 Sexy Facts About Ryan Gosling - Betty Confidential

Top Story? (feature beneath menu):

no

Source: http://celebritybabyscoop.com/2011/08/02/latest-dish

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Ally

Kelly Rowland continues her tour of the U.S. as R&B's "It" girl with the release of her hit album Here I Am. She recently stopped through Atlanta where she took in a Robin Thicke concert then hit the club scene. See pics of Kelly partying in ATL with Tracee Ellis Ross and Kenny Burns inside...

Over the weekend, after Kelly Rowland watched Robin Thicke and Jeremih at the Fox Theater in Atlanta, she headed over to club Mansion Elan.

Kelly greeted fans and partied it up.

Tracee Ellis Ross and Bu Thiam (Akon's brother) later joined in the party.

At one point, Verse Simmons jumped on the mic and serenaded Kelly with their song "Boo Thang."

"Lifestyle guru" Kenny Burns hosted the party.

And Bu and Tracee Ellis Ross seemed to really enjoy each other's company...and were spotted leaving together. We're just the messenger...

Watch Kelly Rowland chiiling in ATL with Kenny Burns and Tracee Ellis Ross here:

Photos via ATLPics.net

Source: http://theybf.com/2011/08/01/party-fab-kelly-rowland-hits-the-club-in-atl-with-tracee-ellis-ross

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She?s no stranger to magazine covers, and Kirsten Dunst is featured on the face of the September issue of Elle UK.

The ?Crazy/Beautiful? babe shows off her platinum blonde locks, and in her interview, she laments the female tendency to go for the wrong guy.

Dunst explains, "We all want the bad guy who doesn't give you what you want. I did a lot of sitting in my car, listening to sad music, crying over boys."

Although, these days she?s been enjoying the company of Jason Boesel- "We have similar schedules: long periods of time off and periods of mad work. When I?ve finished work, I travel to be with him. It?s special."

As for her unique smile, Kirsten declares, ?I love my snaggle fangs. They give me character and character is sexy. People comment, but the only person who ever told me to fix them was my mom ... I just went my own way, like daughters do.?

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/kirsten-dunst/kirsten-dunst-covers-elle-uk-september-2011-530262

Paulina Rubio Paz Vega PenÈlope Cruz Pink Piper Perabo Poppy Montgomery

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Jordin Sparks shows off her tattoo -- and her hot new bod! Plus, check out more stars' cute, candid and crazy Twitter photos!

Source: http://www.ivillage.com/celebrity-twitter-pictures/1-b-229669

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Sorry, random dude on YouTube who wants to believe Selena Gomez is single.

In the following video, the singer takes us behind the scenes of the first "We Own the Night" concert appearance in Boca Raton, Florida. Near the end, she huddles with a group of dancers and friends that includes Justin Bieber. It's sort of funny to watch him NOT be the center of attention for a change.

Elsewhere, Selena greets fans, performs a sound check and gets into wardrobe. Check out the sneak peeks at the tour now:

Behind the Concert Scenes with Selena Gomez

How did it go? Watch these Boca Raton performances and you tell us!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/08/selena-gomez-owns-the-night-behind-the-tour-scenes/

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Co-star Daniel Craig had to 'look me up and down,' actress explains.
By Terri Schwartz, with reporting by Eric Ditzian

Olivia Wilde in "Cowboys & Aliens"
Photo: Universal Pictures

Olivia Wilde might have been covered in dust and dirt while shooting "Cowboys & Aliens," but that didn't make shooting a mostly nude scene in front of her co-star Daniel Craig any less awkward.

"It was kind of strange because I was half-naked in front of a bunch of people, including the crew, a bunch of Apache warriors, a bunch of cowboys, and Daniel Craig, who I had to stand in front of basically naked," Wilde explained to MTV News. "He had to take a moment to sort of look me up and down before covering me in a blanket. And I was like, this is crazy."

It didn't help that after the long night of shooting, Wilde and the rest of the "Cowboys & Aliens" cast had to take an overnight flight to San Diego Comic-Con to make their Hall H presentation. So if fans remember her being a little frazzled, it probably has something to do with the fact Wilde had no sleep after filming a scene in which she was partially nude for the majority of it.

As fans will find out come Friday's release of "Cowboys & Aliens," the scene Wilde is talking about — which has been teased in the film's many trailers — happens at the climax. She said filming the sequence was an "honor" because it is such an important moment in the movie.

"It was really exciting because we knew we were creating something kind of spectacular in that scene," Wilde said. "It was a really cool effect happening, as people will see."

The actress said she didn't wear much make-up and required little hairstyling while filming because the style of the flick was "very bare." She said it was a very dirty shoot, and not just because she was almost naked.

"We were literally dirty because we were riding all day long out in the desert, and you get very dirty. But the dirtier everybody looked, the hotter they looked. It was a really good look, I think," she said.

"The people in the Old West were very dirty. The thing that's unrealistic about our movie is all our teeth: We have good teeth; they didn't have good teeth. So, logic police will call BS on that."

Check out everything we've got on "Cowboys & Aliens."

For breaking news, celebrity columns, humor and more — updated around the clock — visit MTVMoviesBlog.com.

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