Crazy Kind of Love

This is a small story about humane drama and emotion. Nothing special, I still enjoyed a few moments enough to actually end up liking this movie as one-time Saturday night entertainment. Virginia Madsen was the original reason for me to watch the film, but other cast also pulled their weight well enough for this type of movie. Amanda Crew as quirky Bette sparked the whole thing up. I especially liked how some of the situations in the movie were handled in an honest and open way by the characters, enough to make it feel therapeutic and refreshing. Everyone is sometimes sad, depressed, out-of-sorts. And it´s ok.

Virginia Madsen has been a long standing force in Hollywood, albeit a quiet one. She is perfect in this little film about the ending of one type of life, the adjustments needed and necessary for growth and change, and the strength to move through pain.

All of the actors are perfect in this simple slice of life as is the directing and all parts of the film. It is a pleasant little movie with a lot of revelations about moving through the challenges we are confronted with when things don't go according to plans. It reminds us that love, joy and connection are most important for our lives.

I loved this movie. It showed the inherent goodness of people even when things go wrong in their lives & they have cause to be angry/depressed/sad etc & act out. The character of Bette is such a breath of fresh air. As another reviewer wrote, she isn't afraid to be herself nor does she let the others' behaviour affect her desire to love them & be of service...& she's very funny & fresh, a joy to behold! She was also incredibly wise (i.e being aware of allowing the devastation of divorce to floor you in the moment rather than suppressing & holding onto resentment forever etc)without trying & just didn't get drawn into the darkness that was visiting the mother & sons. We need more examples of this in movies, more inspiration to do good in the world & to stay buoyant even when things appear 'bad'. She is an advert for resilience & strength.

I was waiting for formulaic moments to pop up but they didn't. I was continually surprised by where conversations/scenes went & that 'messy' was allowed to be messy without having to tidy it all up & make a pretty-looking package, yet at the same time, it didn't descend into huge amounts of drama & cruelty as is often the way. The ultimate package is pretty anyway, cute, brave, sexy, endearing & very real. I didn't want it to end! Sit back & enjoy my friend :))

After watching this movie, I went and checked that it had a female director as I suspected, and I was right. I then discovered that the writers were female as well.

I then imagined all the parts in the movie played by a character of the opposite sex, and considered what the public reaction would be.

It was interesting to note that even the male lead in the movie could not redeem himself.

It is a superficially pleasant story, but deeply misandrist in its message and were the sexes reversed, would be considered offensive or blatantly silly.

I'm not sure if the director or the writers even intended it as such, but it does show how the public attitudes toward women and men differ, almost to a complete reversal from fifty years ago.

Perhaps someday someone can make a movie about an likable male hero, and the public would believe it?

This feel good romantic dramedy about "crazy love" is perfect for our time, a time when we all need to lighten up, a time when we all need to be living in the present. Yes, I mean "we all" literally. Amanda Crew is brilliant as Bette, a courageous carefree young lady who attempts the impossible feat of fixing an entire damaged family by having the guts to just be herself and encouraging them to be themselves. You won't regret watching this movie. You will see yourself or a relative or a friend in this movie, and you will be inspired. The one who does not like this movie is the one who is afraid to live in the now, who is afraid to experience love (internally and externally), who is afraid of life. If you are that person, I urge you to watch the film again, and again, and then again.

Don't let this one get away!!