CELESTE & JESSE FOREVER (2012)

Directed By: Lee Toland Krieger 
Written By: Rashida Jones & Will McCormack 
Cinematography By: David Lanzenberg 
Editor: Yana Gorskaya 

Cast: Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, Ari Graynor, Eric Christian Olsen, Chris Messina, Emma Roberts, Elijah Wood, Rob Huebel, Will McCormack, Joel Michaely, Chris D’elia, Rich Sommer, Janel Parrish, Rebecca Dayan


Celeste and Jesse have been best friends forever. They dated in high school, got married, and now they're getting divorced. Their best friends don't think they can maintain their friendship throughout the dissolution of their marriage, but Celeste and Jesse don't think there will be a problem. But that's before Jesse gets into a relationship that Celeste doesn't think he can handle, and Celeste finds it harder to move on than she originally thought.

This is a hipster romantic comedy, because as it seems to use it's style and story as a sense of individuality. It also feels pretty basic.

The film revolving around life after the happy ever after Scenario and dropping it from a dream like existence to a harsh reality while keeping it light is a welcome touch.

I will admit a bias as to being a fan of Rashida Jones. Who is luminous and who I applaud for making her character kind of complex by being the controlling type and not apologizing for it. While also being brave enough to be fearless and show herself in a non flattering light as well as displaying her characters more embarassing misdirections.

She co-wrote the screenplay which has her playing what seems to be her type in many of her roles, but here allows us to see the person and depth of that character for once. She really makes it work and come through. This is one of the new breed of romantic comedies that I am thankful for not swimming In sentimentality and having beats that feel real where you don't know how to react and moments that feel truthful though through the whole endeavor the film keeps a light comedic tone.

It's also nice to see Andy Samberg play more of a straight role and not be a goofy type. His humor here comes through, but comes off as more charming then anything.

The subplot with Emma Roberts seem a little unnecessary as it feels more like satire and just needed a new character to kind of tell her about herself and for her to actually take it under consideration.

For all the winning pieces that the film has the one problem I have is the direction style while I applaud trying to make scenes moody and artistic. it also comes off as pretentious and distracting. Using a lot of style when it's not really needed it comes off more as extra dressing when not that much was needed. I could see if the material was thin or the film asked is to read more into it through visuals, but all we need is pretty much conveyed through action, dialogue and performances.

So the camera work seems like it's trying to cover up for something lacking which the film isn't really. Maybe it was the director liking to have a bunch of coverage or having a chip on his shoulder trying to masquerade it's Limited budget. Which is a game as I have enjoyed the director's previous film THE VICIOUS KIND so much. He still has made a good movie here it just feels like he went a little overboard in trying to be subtle.

I like this film even at times when it feels like it is trying too hard to impress, where it seems nothing can be basic it all seems like it has to be cool for some kind of mass appeal to the audience. The film isn't shallow, bit you will only discover that if you Give it a chance

Grade: B-