Directed by Lee Toland Krieger
Starring Andy Samberg, Rashida Jones, Elijah Wood, Emma Roberts, Ari Graynor
RATING
7/10
No one could've put it better than Joseph Gordon-Levitt in "(500) Days of Summer", in which he has a complete mental breakdown after Summer breaks up with him. "People should be able to say how they really feel, and not words some stranger put into their mouths. Words like 'love', that don't mean anything. It's these cards, and the movies and the pop songs, they're to blame for all the lies and the heartache, everything." Then this film came along to put a nail on that speech in the form of "Celeste and Jesse Forever". Now I'm a sucker for a good romantic comedy, and from the trailers, this looked like another really fun indie-rom com I could sink my teeth into. But I was very unprepared and shocked at the levels of maturity I experienced.
"Celeste and Jesse Forever" is about a couple (I'll give you twenty bucks if you guess what their names are) who have just recently suffered a major blow in their relationship, and are signing up for divorce. However, they still remain very close friends, which other couples are confused about. Then Jesse runs into an acquaintance at a book store, which causes a spark of jealousy in Celeste. Eventually, the pieces fall into place when Jesse announces some big news that sends Celeste's romantic life into a long downward spiral.
It's not like right off the bat, you can tell the film is going to be anything other than the usual quirky romantic comedy, but only when things get heated does the film succeed on going in different directions not seen much in these love stories. It manages to more or less maintain its comedic appeal, but for the most part, it's a tragic romance that tugs at your heartstrings. Andy Samberg and Rashida Jones have fantastic chemistry together, and feel like a genuine couple who are too attached to let go. But Jesse's big revelation causes some interesting character development, and that's where Jones dominates when the attention fixes on her. She's a stunning actress, both in talent and looks. But she was well suited to this type of role, and ends up stealing the show. The fact that the film is aware of how unconventional it is can be arguably seen as both a good and bad thing, however.
When it hits the right emotional chords, it hits very hard, and in that specific scene knows how to manipulate the viewer. It's a great balance of directing and complete faith in the actors. However, there are a few misses that the film suffers from, mainly within it's unconventional rom com premise sometimes being a bit forced and hasty, and at other times really undermines the potential of how clever it could've been. There's an uneven throughline that unfortunately won't sit well with normal filmgoers and I assume some film nerds who are in the extremely rare situation of having a girlfriend. Also, the characters are either underused or downright unlikable, like Elijah Wood, who's brief moments in the film are funny, but never feels needed in the bulk of things. Please excuse my lack of knowledge, but the detective from 'Devil' who connects with Celeste is an unlikable schlup who doesn't make any effort to prove he's worth our time.
"Celeste and Jesse Forever" is a good indie-flick that's well worth your time if you're looking for something different, but with less humble style than, say, "(500) Days of Summer". Rashida Jones is fantastic, and the comedic elements add when necessary, but it's mostly a romantic drama that bares witness to the falling out of a relationship and the harsh repurcussions that follow. It's not always an easy watch, but it demands your attention.
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