#140RVW
Never liked Andy Samberg. Breaking Rashida Jones’ heart? You bastard. Wait, maybe that was just the character, huh? Never mind. We’re good.
What’s more:
It’s very hard to carve out any original space in the overcrowded romantic comedy field. Celeste and Jesse Forever succeeds largely because it is more than your standard rom-com; it is a realistic look at relationships that happens to be funny as hell.
The film opens with a wonderful title sequence showing the courtship of Celeste and Jesse, who appear to have a storybook relationship. From the opening scenes these two are adorkable and clearly perfect together. Only they’re not; this wonderful friendship is masking the failure of their relationship. The next 90 minutes follow these two trying to find happiness with or without each other, struggling with their friendship and their relationship.
Rashida Jones co-wrote this with Will McCormack, who has a small role in the film. It is the first screenwriting gig for either of them, but I doubt very much it will be the last. They’ve put together a very good script that doesn’t shy away from real emotions. These characters behave in familiar ways; not familiar for movies, familiar to actual humans. Characters you like will do things that make you cringe – it’s not clean, and neither is life.
Rashida Jones really becomes a certifiable star with this picture. It’s a great performance. Samberg leaves me cold; just a perennial smart-ass. Elijah Wood has a small but fun role as Celeste’s business partner. Emma Roberts plays Miley Cyrus, essentially, in a subplot that isn’t strictly necessary but provides some good comedy moments and gives Celeste some needed perspective.
Good if not great picture – check it out.
Poster:
Trailer:
http://youtu.be/KWQL_Zrqhb8
Bechdel Test:
Pass
The Representation Test Score: A (13 pts)
(http://therepresentationproject.org/grading-hollywood-the-representation-test/)
| Main Cast | Rashida Jones Celeste, Andy Samberg Jesse, Elijah Wood Scott, Emma Roberts Riley |
| Rating | R |
| Release Date | Fri 24 Aug 2012 UTC |
| Director | Lee Toland Krieger |
| Genres | Comedy, Drama, Romance |
| Plot | A divorcing couple tries to maintain their friendship while they both pursue other people. |
| Poster |  |
| Runtime | 92 |
| Tagline | A loved story. |
| Writers | Rashida Jones (written by) &, Will McCormack (written by) |
| Year | 2012 |
