“Like Crazy”, not for those looking for a feel good movie; the tag line may be “I want you, I need you, I love you, I miss you, Like Crazy”, but this movie guarantees no happy ending. This movie portrays a real world relationship with no added fluff, and though it may not have ended the way the audience hoped it had, there is no denying Anna and Jacob loved each other like crazy.
Over the course of eight years, the audience follows the budding and dying relationship of Anna (Felicity Jones) and Jacob (Anton Yelchin). Anna and Jacob are smitten with each other right from the beginning of their first awkward date. Unfortunately, Anna violates the visa that had been allowing her to stay in the United States, and the couple’s love is ultimately put to the test. Jacob has a life and a career in the States, and Anna legally cannot come back. The couple struggles to stay together, while living worlds apart.
The audience often became frustrated at times because of the script, or the lack there of. It was in fact written without a script; directors Drake Doremu and Ben York solely wrote a layout for the plot line, and then left the speaking to the actors. Due to completely improvised lines, most of the communication happened from looks and body language. Though these looks could be incredibly romantic at times, it left the audience feeling frustrated when multiple scene went by with nothing said at all.
Both Felicity Jones and Anton Yelchin rose to the challenge of creating their own lines, and each potrayed their love-sick characters very realistically. Audience members will often forget they are watching a film and start to feel like they are watching home videos. While some movies have a luxurious background and loud, catchy songs to make up for their awful actors, “Like Crazy” needed none of this. The acting was very raw and the emotions portrayed felt wholesome and real.
Though it was both artistically and beautifully filmed, the plot line ultimately lacked structure. A scene could start at the end of a wonderful date and then skip to four months later during an argument. Though many people were attracted to “Like Crazy” for its genuineness, the movie could have used better construction and a more captivating plot to keep the audience engaged throughout the whole film.
