Like Crazy

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Entertainment: +3

Content: -2

Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones, Jennifer Lawrence. Romantic drama. Written and directed by Drake Doremus.

FILM SYNOPSIS: When a British college student falls for her American classmate they embark on a passionate and life-changing journey, only to be separated when she violates the terms of her visa.

PREVIEW REVIEW: So, one middle-aged guy leaving the theater lets everyone around him know his opinion of the film. Basically, and I’m paraphrasing here, he didn’t like it. Amid several colorful euphemisms, the one definition I can use here was – boring. He thought it was one of the worst films he’d seen. I, on the other hand, liked it.

The first ten minutes show this young couple falling for each other. Though they are in college, the mating game is so sweet natured, so innocent, they seem more like adolescents. I couldn’t help but be reminded of that time in my life when some young lady looked into my eyes as if I were the greatest thing to come along. By the end of that first ten minutes, the picture faded to black and I kind of wished the film had ended there. It had been charming: the two leads perfectly cast and able to relay those most tender of moments, when young love blossoms. Though I’m far past the stages of young love, still, I could relate.

But life and movies always proceed beyond that gentle Act One. Having ignored the limits of her visa, she stays the summer, the two lost in each other’s arms for sixty days. But a price is paid. It seems some can’t enter and stay in a country illegally. (Hmmm.) She deliberately broke the laws between two countries and comes to hate the consequences. Now they won’t let her back into America and the two lovers are torn apart by distance and the passions of youth. The two are kept apart by fate, by the film’s antagonist – bureaucracy.

Not as dimensional or heartbreaking as the Natalie Wood/Warren Beatty sudser, Splendor in the Grass, but a nice change of modern-day movie pace. Writer/director Drake Doremus develops both character and story and keeps us hooked with a deliberate pacing and his resonate dialogue. Well, he kept me hooked. I couldn’t say the same for that fellow moviegoer with the colorful colloquialisms.

You can read this as a positive take on this film, but please read the content before deciding to attend. I’m not condoning their lifestyle, just appreciating the portrait of young love unfulfilled.

Preview Reviewer: Phil Boatwright
Distributor: Paramount Vantage.

Summary
The following categories contain objective listings of film content which contribute to the subjective numeric Content ratings posted to the left and on the Home page.

Crude Language: None

Obscene Language: Three obscenities, two s-words and one f-word.

Profanity: I caught no misuse of God’s name; Though God is not shown irreverence, neither is He given any place in this young couple’s life; even marriage is done in a courthouse, without any mention of the Creator.

Violence: Other than one very vocal argument, there’s little that could be considered of a violent nature.

Sex: It is portrayed that sex outside of marriage is frequent between this couple, with one scene fairly graphic, though no nudity is shown; they eventually live with other people outside marriage.

Nudity: None

Sexual Dialogue/Gesture: None

Drugs: There’s a great deal of drinking throughout.

Other: None

Running Time: 90 minutes
Intended Audience: Older teens and up.

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