Anna (Felicity Jones) is a British student studying in America, where she falls deeply in love with Jacob (Anton Yelchin), a fellow student in her class. The pair become inseparable, but Anna’s student VISA expires and the love-struck youngster decides to stay in the US beyond the expiration. When heading back to England for a wedding, however, she is refused entry back into America and the pair face a long distance relationship. Said distance puts a strain on both parties, with time zones, jobs and even other people meaning their young love may be destroyed before it’s truly begun.
There are plenty of holes to pick in the story if you want to, but given the dearth of originality in most movies of this type ‘Like Crazy’ rises above most. This is mostly thanks to the impression that this could happen (and indeed did to some extent, as this is based on director Drake Doremus’ own marriage), as the dialogue (which was revealed by Jones to be improvised) gives the drama a ‘fly on the wall’ rawness that most Hollywood rom-coms could never achieve.
Yelchin and Jones are both exciting actors, and as an on-screen couple they both manage to feel believable. The youthful arrogance that leads to their separation and the impatience that threatens to drive them apart both ring true to anyone that’s been young and in love. By the end of the film there’s no right or wrong parties, it becomes as messy as most relationships can be. Jennifer Lawrence and Charlie Bewley play the ‘other woman/man’ for Jacob and Anna respectively, but neither get a chance to shine beyond the odd tearful declaration of love.
While it does contain a lot of the melodramatic trappings of any romantic drama, ‘Like Crazy’ takes a more serious and adult approach. Although clearly containing a lot of the director’s personal experience, the largely improvised performances from some exciting young actors distinguish it from the average slush-fest.
'Like Crazy' is in cinemas now.
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