Celeste & Jesse Forever (2012)

Very well executed

Too much of everything

Highly Overrated But Still Good

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

"Celeste and Jesse Forever" is the the story of two friends Celeste (Rashida Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samberg) who have known each other since high school, eventually they got married and now their relationship is on the rocks. Now that they're pushing 30, Celeste has her mind set on her job as a media consultant, while Jesse has no real hurries in seeking employment. While feeling bad about it, Celeste feels that by divorcing Jesse was the right thing to do as she's climbing the ladder of success and he's stagnating to going nowhere in life, they agreed to speed this divorce while they can still remain on good terms with each other. Jesse agrees, but he still has feelings for her. As their settlements are closing in, Celeste progressively comes to realize that she has been supercilious towards their relationship and while her decision may have been a wise move on her behalf was also a bit impetuous as well. While going through what these ex-spouses are going through in their lives, we learn that the best of friends are the ones you must let go. Sparking a refreshing perspective of the oldest genre depicted on screen, the romantic-comedy, writers and co-stars Rashida Jones and Will McCormick have drawn a theoretical conclusion that love and marriage does not always guarantee happiness. The question remains can two ex-spouses continue being on friendly terms even though they're no longer married? It's an exhilarating hypothetical theory that this convoluted story about a married couple who knew each other since adolescence decided that their time is done, but are still on good terms with each other if not even better than when they were married.Ambitions, crossfires, achievements and destinies all come into play as Celeste and Jesse agree to terminate their marriage while they can still remain friends and have a good time with each other. And though some of the scenes look forced and at times immature, the charm of the characters (especially from Jones), the fast-paced whimsical nature of this film will keep you on your toes throughout, while trying to figure out what they really want in life. It's a shame this film has more comedy and less romance, and a lot of the situations these people are facing could've been handled with more care than that. I found it very hard to accept that Celeste and Jesse seem to take their divorce settlements lightly with each or the fact that they seem comfortable with each and yet getting divorced is anything but. They're childish goofiness with each other in public establishments can really catch you off guard into not being convinced that they've been separated for six months. How did they recover so quickly? It's only until as the film rolls on we can see why these two divorced each other. While Jesse seems at liberation as a jobless slacker and Celeste is fixated on her career, who's always right in every avenue of life in and out of her job.There are some funny scenes where Celeste goes on many dates that just don't work out very well for her and some hilarious side stories that involve a self-absorbed pop star named Riley (Emma Roberts) whose logo design is saturated with unintentional symbolism for extreme homosexuality. Elijah Wood was remarkable in funny supporting role as Celeste's homosexual colleague named Scott. And while I've praised for Jones I like to turn my attention to Samberg, who seems to come off like a soft, vulnerable rabbit, but after awhile his self-indulgent ways start to aggravate me, but it doesn't hinder the film entirely as the focal character is centred on Celeste as we can connect with her through her emotions and her trials and tribulations. Jones was just purely dynamic in her leading role. Another standout performance comes from Rebecca Dayan as Veronica, an attractive brunette who has been a secret lover of Jesse months before.The staggering laborious question that's on everyone's mind in this spontaneous romantic comedy is, will Celeste and Jesse ever remarry again? The answer may look simple, but in reality it's anything but. Maybe in the end it's better that they just remain friends and sure it's important to be right, but what exceeds righteousness is happiness.

Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012): Dir: Lee Toland Krieger / Cast: Rashida Jones, Andy Samberg, Ari Graynor, Eric Christian Olsen, Emma Roberts: Depressing romance with a theme that many folks may relate too. It regards those couples who cannot function in marriage yet able to function in friendship after divorce. The important scene regards our star couple, played by Andy Samberg and Rashida Jones out to dinner with a couple who are engaged and the conversation expands to this divorced couple still being close friends. Jones works to promote music talent and her latest client is a real hell cat demanding diva brat. Samberg is an artist who struggles with employment. This was part of what led to their split. He could not accept responsibility. Now he has gotten someone pregnant and his priorities are altered. She is at a loss realizing that she still loves him. She struggles with dating but the issue with the screenplay is its predictable presentation as well as an ending that some may view as realistic but at the same time hopelessly depressing. The film's title actually only partially works when one factors the conclusion. Jones and Samberg pull through with credible performances but supporting characters draw attention to themselves by merely being corny. Ari Graynor and Eric Christian Olsen play their engaged friends but they are props for convenience. Emma Roberts steals moments as a bratty pop singer whom Jones initially bashes. The theme of marriage and friendship is strong with good location work to match but it also leaves a forever harden sense of regret. Score: 5 ½ / 10

I can't understand for the life of me why this movie has such a low rating! I went into this movie not expecting too much.. I don't mind Andy Samberg and Rashida Jones so I thought I'd give it a try. First off, don't watch this movie if you're looking for something full of laughs. It's not supposed to be something that has you in stitches. I thought it was a beautiful, well acted story of love and friendship. At times it was frustrating, heartbreaking, amusing and heartwarming. It made me smile and it made me sad. Both Samberg and Jones were pretty phenomenal in their acting in this movie. This movie stuck me as a more intelligent, realistic romance for those of us who are over the Nicholas Sparks sap. I'd recommend giving this movie a chance, I'm glad I did.

. . . to rise to the level of a great "RomCom," such as ANNIE HALL. Even if you restrict comparisons to the sub-genre of "Sweet & Sour RomComs," CELESTE & JESSE cannot touch (500) DAYS OF SUMM3R, primarily because there is little chemistry or plausibility at any point between the title characters, played by Rashida Jones (who also co-wrote this flick) and Andy Samberg. While Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas were able to add some pizazz to their break-up movie--THE WAR OF THE ROSES--through trapeze work on the family chandelier, there is no evidence of any CGI efforts to enhance CELESTE & JESSE FOREVER. For people who watch fictional shows on television, perhaps this dud would be their cup of tea, as I understand one or both of the leads is experienced and known on the small screen medium. (I learned this fact from a newspaper story I read AFTER seeing CELESTE & JESSE in the multiplex.) However, those expecting the acting, writing, and humor quality of the Julie Delpy-Ethan Hawke SUNSET trilogy from CELESTE & JESSE will be in for a grim disappointment here. Movie goers should NOT be required to memorize the name of EVERY minor league TV personality in order NOT to be sucked in to wasting their admission money on something equivalent to a 1970s VHS tape projected onto the $10-a-ticket big screen. There MUST be an asterisk and accompanying disclaimer for offerings such as CELESTE & JESSE, saying something like "If you want to spend 90 minutes with material below the quality of a rejected TV sitcom pilot without a laugh track, then go ahead and pay for this movie; otherwise, STAY AWAY!"