Like Crazy
Paramount Vantage | Release Date: October 28, 2011
7.1
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 121 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
79
Mixed:
31
Negative:
11
Watch Now
Stream On
Stream On
Buy on
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Stream On
Expand
Review this movie
VOTE NOW
 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Check box if your review contains spoilers 0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
5
brettjm18Nov 25, 2011
Early word from Sundance last January pegged Like Crazy as this years Blue Valentine largely due to its non-conventional and realistic approach at depicting on screen romance. While it's become refreshing to see film work against convention,Early word from Sundance last January pegged Like Crazy as this years Blue Valentine largely due to its non-conventional and realistic approach at depicting on screen romance. While it's become refreshing to see film work against convention, Like Crazy struggles to maintain a convincing narrative which makes it hard to empathize with these characters. The film isn't without its charm. Felicity Jones shines throughout and is strong enough to recommend on that basis alone. I can't help but feel if the film was at the helm of a different director that it would of translated better on screen and created a stronger emotional impact by its "open-ending" conclusion.… Expand
3 of 3 users found this helpful30
All this user's reviews
4
RobinsNestMar 28, 2012
This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Never felt any passion, I didn't root for them and what's up with the ending? They both realized they lost what they had? they will live in misery for the rest of their lives? Any remorse for screwing up others, more than once? If it smoldered, if I cried with them, if I felt anything, I would forgive them. But alas....just a mostly arid, depiction of love built, love tested, love teetering, love lost.
Some nice editing, a flash here and there,not quite poor, but close (C-).… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
All this user's reviews
6
ShotgunDec 14, 2011
I expected more. The movie is slow and acting is not too good. Despite these issues, Like Crazy is worth seeing. I'd recommend for anyone who can relate to the idea of life getting in the way of love.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
All this user's reviews
6
TVJerryNov 24, 2011
Anton Yelchin plays an American college student who falls for British Felicity Jones. When she violates here visa, they're forced into a strained long-distance relationship. Most of the time is spent with the duo and they do manage to createAnton Yelchin plays an American college student who falls for British Felicity Jones. When she violates here visa, they're forced into a strained long-distance relationship. Most of the time is spent with the duo and they do manage to create a compelling couple. The movie is not particularly original and the dialogue, which is mostly adlibbed, feels talky and unfocused. If you're looking for a sweet and sour love story, you might enjoy this quickly-forgettable film.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
4
lahaineDec 10, 2011
As a fan of indie-films I tried liking Like Crazy, I even thought the last 30 minutes of it was okay. However, the entire two-thirds of this movie just wasn't doing it for me. The story itself just wasn't that spectacular, and the directorAs a fan of indie-films I tried liking Like Crazy, I even thought the last 30 minutes of it was okay. However, the entire two-thirds of this movie just wasn't doing it for me. The story itself just wasn't that spectacular, and the director didn't do much to make the movie itself spectacular. It showcased some free-flowing editing that added a stylistic touch, but ultimately it did the characters little justice as we weren't given the time to empathize with them. The film was basically a slideshow, that hinted at events, but never fully realizes it. Despite the film being emotionally void, I did appreciate the performances which were naturalistic and true, but wasn't enough to save this movie from mediocrity.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
4
bebe33Nov 25, 2011
This experience isn't enough to make a movie about. I know people who've had experiences something like that -- some years of love, difficulty, breaking up, getting back together. It happens, but it's not enough. also, there was too muchThis experience isn't enough to make a movie about. I know people who've had experiences something like that -- some years of love, difficulty, breaking up, getting back together. It happens, but it's not enough. also, there was too much of beautiful faces, drinking, laughing people. Didn't anything ever happen to these people, when they didn't have a glass in their hands?… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
beingryanjudeSep 1, 2014
A charming and touching story through and through. Unfortunately, the latter half of the film lost its spark. Felicity Jones is a new young actress to watch following this role.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
5
SpangleNov 22, 2016
Like Crazy is a very difficult film for me to pin down in my mind. Entering the film, I had heard terrific things and it appears that I may be one of the few to enjoy director Drake Doremus' latest work, Equals. Thus, my hopes were quite highLike Crazy is a very difficult film for me to pin down in my mind. Entering the film, I had heard terrific things and it appears that I may be one of the few to enjoy director Drake Doremus' latest work, Equals. Thus, my hopes were quite high for Like Crazy, a film cited by many to be a good romantic film. Starring Felicity Jones as Anna and Anton Yelchin as Jacob, Like Crazy tells the story of two people who fall in love, but are separated after Anna overstays her visa and is banned from the United States. The film shows the ensuing turmoil the relationship is placed under as the duo struggle to come with their newly created long-distance relationship. Emotionally distant, awkwardly edited, yet greatly authentic and often quite romantic. Yet, it my struggles with the film may be traced back to misplaced expectations.

On the positive end of the spectrum, the relationship between Anna and Jacob is terrifically crafted. At first wholly romantic and filled with open adoration and infatuation, this quickly dies when Anna is sent back to Britain. The transformation from star crossed lovers to the equivalent of distant relatives is dramatic, heartbreaking, and terrifically well covered. Their personal anguish at the loss of their other half is well-defined, especially when Jacob is in a bar with another girl, Sam (Jennifer Lawrence). Though he feels a connection to Sam, a call from Anna brings him right back into the fold, as she explains that she cannot replace what she had with Jacob with any other guy. She has tried, but she has failed, and she wants him back full-time. A truly emotional scene, the moment highlights the terrific chemistry between Jones and Yelchin, while also underscoring their top-class performances. Though often exploring their relationship from an arms distance, Like Crazy is certainly blessed with great performances.

Additionally, in analyzing long-distance relationships, Like Crazy does a great job at showing the duo grow apart. At a certain point, it is clear through solemn resignation that they are no longer meant to be together, as they have spent far too much time apart for the chemistry to still remain as it once did. This realization, highlighted in the final moments in the shower, are somber, but subtly noted by the film itself. Through their long-distance relationship and flings with other people, they have grown into completely new people, unable to rekindle what once made them click so well together. By the end of the film, the chemistry between Jones and Yelchin is non-existent, highlighting the distance that now separates the couple.

Yet, the subtle nature of the film is also a curse. Though the second half benefits from it, the beginning suffers greatly. The beginning of the relationship - the most passionate portion - is completely non-climactic. It has no emotional impact, as Doremus speeds through it at the speed of light, never allowing the audience to feel the true impact of the character's love. As a result, by the end, their dissolution falls on deaf ears as the audience was never able to truly build up a great rapport with the couple by following the early stages of their relationship.

In conjunction with this, much of the film feels oddly edited. This ties in directly with the quick pace in regards to the relationship, as they both combine to leave the film feeling too emotionally distant. To a degree, the distance is acceptable and benefits the film, turning it into a smart, subtle, and somewhat unique romance. However, the quick pace, quick cuts, and incredibly short scenes leave each scene feeling as if it were building to something, only for it to then skip ahead to the next sequence. The film never truly let's the audience stay in the moment and really soak it in. Instead, it is too quick to pull away the camera and move along to its next moment. This could certainly be the fault of the writing, rather than the editing, as one could make the argument that it is simply underwritten, but for me, the writing never stuck out as the issue. Rather, the editing left the film feeling as though scenes merely smashed into one another, instead of flowing between one another. For me, it left the whole film feeling incredibly stunted and wholly unsatisfactory. It also had the impact of turning the film into merely a collection of scenes with only small threads to tie them together. With connecting moments, Like Crazy would feel less like a highlight reel and more akin to a romantic drama.

Like Crazy is a film where is it easy to see the appeal. Authentic, often stirring, and lovingly crafted, the film hits home for those who are or have experienced a long-distance relationship. Anna and Jacob's struggles are their own, as well as the manifestation of the distance in how the couple treat one another. Yet, the film is plagued by this very same distance, keeping the audience too far away and uninformed to truly feel the impact of the relationship.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
6
jppl1999Dec 7, 2013
It is a cute movie. Felicity Jones and Anton Yelchin create an interesting couple in a lovely movie that starts to get slow and predictable some times, but the complementation with Jennifer Lawrence as Samantha reborn the film to a moreIt is a cute movie. Felicity Jones and Anton Yelchin create an interesting couple in a lovely movie that starts to get slow and predictable some times, but the complementation with Jennifer Lawrence as Samantha reborn the film to a more accurate and neat one.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
4
QuelhasFeb 18, 2015
This movie had everything to be a perfect one, but then... not. Great actors with great performances, great scenes and light, and when it comes to give passion to the story it failed horribly. It is with regret that I think this movie isThis movie had everything to be a perfect one, but then... not. Great actors with great performances, great scenes and light, and when it comes to give passion to the story it failed horribly. It is with regret that I think this movie is flat, from the beginning to the end. I'm not going to even comment the end...… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
All this user's reviews
More From This Movie

68 Critic Reviews

7.1 User Reviews

Details & Credits|Trailers

Current Movie Releases
By MetascoreBy User Score
1 81 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
2 77 Project Hail Mary
3 75 Send Help
4 73 Hoppers
5 72 The Sheep Detectives
SEE ALL
Essential Links
New on Amazon Prime Video
New on Netflix
Coming Soon to DVD/Blu-ray
SEE ALL