Like Crazy movie review: this long distance relationship film, received so much pre-release buzz, that I actually wrote three articles about it before it appeared in theaters. Finally, last night, it opened in Reno and I had the chance to take my husband to see and review it. Before I tell you what I think about it, understand that we’re no ordinary couple—we started our relationship as an LDR which culminated in a marriage that has lasted over 21 years. Yes, we are an example of a couple who has gone the distance and lived to tell the tale.
We found the movie slow, but engaging. The scenes are deeply personal and rarely seemed contrived. I remembered from the pre-release publicity that a lot of the scenes were unscripted and it shows. It many ways, the movie feels like real life.
In fact, as a viewer, you almost feel like a voyeur, as if you are peering through a keyhole that reveals this couples’ most intimate moments. When I speak of intimacy, I’m not necessarily referring to sex, but there is the hint of this as well.
Although one feels like an intimate witness, the experience is satisfying, especially because of Felicity Jones (who won the Best Actress award at the Sundance Film Festival for her role). Her performance in Like Crazy movie is so genuine, so alive and spontaneous that Anton Yelchin pales in comparison.
Love for the British college student (Jones) and her American companion (Yelchin) is wonderful until Jones makes a choice that ultimately proves to be the wedge that drives them apart: she fails to return to her country of origin before her visa expires. Although her parents warned her about this very situation and she had a plane ticket to return at the proper time, she can’t bear to be away from her lover for the length of time required to renew her visa, so she stays.
Like Crazy movie review: despite its ending, it's worth it.
Later when she does return home to England and then comes back to the States, she is prevented from entering the country because she violated her visa. Although the couple is hopeful about a good outcome, their relationship devolves at this point and herein is the challenge: when factors outside your control keep you apart, how do you keep your love strong?
Although I won’t give any more details here, I will say that the ending is somewhat unsatisfying and unclear. After reading numerous audience reviews on movie review sites, I’ve come to the conclusion that a lot of other viewers felt the same about the ending as I did. Still, I think the movie makes up for it and it is certainly worth seeing, especially if you are in a long distance relationship.
When I asked my husband how he would sum up my Like Crazy movie review, he said, “It’s like an appetizer that leaves you hungry for more.” In other words, he didn’t much like the ending either.
If you’ve seen the movie, feel free to leave your comments below.
Copyright 2011 by Laura Ramirez. All rights reserved.
