Crazy, Stupid, Love

Love can be a surprise package and this comedy drama proves to be similarly disarming. Steve Carell is on form as a regular guy who begins the film happily married, but only until the end of the witty opening scene, when wife Julianne Moore asks for a divorce. He then meets bar-room player Ryan Gosling, who offers to restore the self-confessed cuckold to manly glory, and from there on this plays out like Pygmalion in shiny suits. But for all the laddish exploits, co-directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (I Love You Phillip Morris) never lapse into cynicism. Crucially, Gosling's womaniser remains endearing and funny, so that when the wholesome Emma Stone comes along and proves immune to his charms, you root for him to get the girl. Another subplot involving Carell's teenage son and his babysitter slows the pace, and a contrived finale somewhat undermines the realism, but there's more than enough charm and good humour here to sweep you off your feet.