THE REWATCHABLES · February 23, 2026
A 2011 romance / comedy / drama movie directed by Glenn Ficarra; John Requa—and decision no. 96 in the Hanks–Cruise tape.
ON THIS EPISODE
FROM THE CONVERSATION
WHY IT WORKS
WHAT DID NOT WORK
SCENES THEY KEPT COMING BACK TO
Cal reacts to his wife’s confession by jumping out of the moving car, establishing the movie’s comic shock style.
About 1:12Jacob’s persistent flirting and Hannah’s resistance establish his character and the film’s chemistry.
About 1:12Cal’s shopping and grooming transformation is treated as a highly effective and funny classic montage.
About 48 minHannah and Jacob’s improvised Dirty Dancing routine becomes the movie’s signature romantic sequence.
About 40 minThe scene turns from physical attraction to a surprisingly intimate talk about habits and flaws.
About 48 minThe story lines converge in a big final-act reveal and speech-heavy resolution.
About 56 minScenes involving the son, the ex-wife, and the school interactions are praised as part of the structure.
About 48 minWHERE THEY DISAGREED
Bill SimmonsSteve Carell is the formal lead, but Gosling steals the movie.
Van LathanCarell anchors the film emotionally, though Gosling dominates the iconic scenes.
Mina KimesGosling and Stone are the most electric pair in the film.
Van LathanThe last stretch is a little too saccharine.
Bill SimmonsThe ending works because the movie has earned its payoffs.
Van LathanThe character is a now-outdated, toxic-pickup figure that would be treated differently today.
Bill SimmonsThe movie softens him and gives him a backstory that makes him more legible.
Mina KimesThe character’s approach feels like a specific 2011-era style of dating behavior.
Says it is ideal for casual rewatching because the plot threads are clear and the payoff is strong.
Opening minutesArgues Carell’s appeal comes from being funny, off-balance, and innately good-hearted.
About 8 minTreats Gosling as the movie’s real star and a major screen presence.
About 16 minSays their chemistry here is better than in La La Land.
About 24 minFrames Stone as a generational star with both comic and dramatic gifts.
About 24 minCalls it one of the best romantic-comedy scenes in the last 20 years.
About 40 minSays the script is one of the best of the decade and a near-perfect puzzle box.
About 8 minFeels the final stretch gets too sentimental, even though the movie mostly works for him.
About 40 minEnjoys the shopping and grooming sequence as a rare male makeover montage that works.
About 48 minSays Gosling heavily influenced how he thought a male star should look and act at 17.
About 1:20The film is praised for a puzzle-like screenplay that sets up and resolves multiple twists efficiently.
Opening minutesRyan Gosling’s character is discussed as a pickup-artist type whose behavior reflects a now-dated view of masculinity.
About 32 minThe episode treats Gosling-Stone as a rare pairing with strong on-screen electricity and cross-demographic appeal.
About 24 minBars, malls, and suburban/Valley locations are treated as a key part of the film’s identity.
About 56 minThe conversation repeatedly asks what has aged well and what would now be handled differently in a post-#MeToo, social-media era.
About 32 minThe film was a box-office hit, grossing about $145 million on a $50 million budget.
About 32 minRoger Ebert gave the film three stars and called it a sweet romantic comedy about good-hearted people.
About 32 minThe hosts say the movie includes two separate fake-outs or reveal structures.
Opening minutesEmma Stone’s lift scene reportedly required a body double because of a childhood injury flashback.
About 1:20The film’s locations discussed include Century City, Ventura Boulevard, the Sherman Oaks Galleria, and Woodland Hills.
About 56 minThe host says the movie has a lot of ‘couples divorce’ energy and questions who picks sides in such situations.
About 48 minThe recurring bar scenes lead the hosts to talk about straw use as a masculine-code joke.
About 56 minCraig says he looked for Ryan Gosling’s sunglasses after the movie came out.
About 1:20Used as a comparison for Gosling/Stone chemistry and as an ‘unofficial sequel’ idea.
About 24 minCited as a key Gosling performance and part of his star-making run.
About 16 minUsed to explain Carell’s television-to-film status and cultural dominance.
About 8 minReferenced as a favorite show associated with the directors/creators the hosts like.
About 8 min · medium confidenceUsed to discuss Dan Fogelman’s later career.
About 8 min · medium confidenceCited as part of Carell’s later film mix in a career discussion.
About 8 min · low confidenceUsed to explain Carell’s ability to play a good-hearted but troubled man.
About 8 minMentioned as part of Carell’s uneven starring run.
About 8 min · medium confidenceUsed as an example of one of Carell’s mixed/lesser leading roles.
About 8 min · medium confidenceCited as another Carell comedy in the same discussion of his career arc.
About 8 min · medium confidenceMentioned as a 2010s ensemble romance that the hosts feel often fails.
Opening minutesCited as an older ensemble-romance template with a late convergence payoff.
Opening minutes · medium confidenceReferenced because the film builds a seduction sequence around it.
About 40 minUsed as a comparison for a car-jump breakup scene.
About 1:12Referenced as another Glenn Ficarra/John Requa film with strong chemistry and style.
About 8 min · medium confidenceThe hosts keep returning to the idea that the movie is an ideal airplane watch.
Opening minutesThey joke that straws are ‘phallic’ and that men shouldn’t drink certain cocktails with them.
About 56 minThe conversation repeatedly compares actors’ careers to sports stock picks and apex peaks.
About 24 minVan introduces a bit about undeniably cool men who make other men comfortable admiring them.
About 1:28The hosts rave about the Century City mall as an elite Los Angeles hangout/location.
About 56 minA recurring joke asks how one handles being asked to pick sides in a breakup.
About 48 min“Marissa Tomei in Crazy Stupid Love is the energy”Opening minutes
“That scene calls its shot”About 40 min
“You left your sweater in my car”About 48 min
“The war between the sexes is over”About 56 min
“This movie really drinking old fashions”About 1:20
MAKE IT A MOVIE NIGHT
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
Three movies to watch before Crazy, Stupid, Love, and three to watch next.
ON THE MIC
Bill Simmons125 tracked appearances · 56 H / 64 C / 5 ties
Van Lathan36 tracked appearances · 11 H / 23 C / 2 tiesCATEGORY CONTEXT
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