Back when my parents were dating, they saw “The Way We Were.” As the story goes, my dad stood up to leave halfway through. “They’re married now, so it’s over, right?” he asked my mom. “No! Sit down!” she hissed. Since then, my dad has referred to the classic doomed love story - which resulted in countless pop cultural references and sighing women worldwide – as “The Way We Bore.”
I think Dad would feel the same way about “Like Crazy.” In fact, I know he would, because when we saw the trailer he rolled his eyes and went to get a popcorn refill, while my mom, sister and I looked at each other and shrugged. Romance, separation, feelings. British accents. Yeah, we’d be there.
I’ll say this about “Like Crazy”: just like love, when it’s right it’s right. The early days of the relationship between Jacob (Anton Yelchin) and Anna (Felicity Jones) are so painfully reminiscent of The First Big Thing – the giggling! the footsie! the “oh my God I love Paul Simon too!” – that I was far from the only one in the theatre going “aww” while also knowing exactly what was going to happen. And sure enough, there it was: the inevitable complications. The fights. The realization that what’s exactly desirable at twenty-one doesn’t always translate to the adult world, with its pesky responsibilities and visas and personal growth.
What’s nice about “Like Crazy” is the comfort factor. Jacob and Anna’s future is often uncertain, but the soft focus, lovely scenery and adorable outfits make it way more palatable for repeat viewings than, say, “Blue Valentine.” I just wish some of the plot points weren’t so farfetched. When I wasn’t saying “right! right!” I was asking “really? really?”
Still, if you’re a sucker for reliving your own first love – which can be very pleasant for a 90-minute stretch – why not? You know you want to.
Full price, matinee or rental? Matinee.
“Like Crazy” is currently playing at Landmark Century Centre Cinema (2828 N. Clark).
