Wednesday Movie Night: Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012)

Romantic dramas are now real. Days are gone, for the most part that is, of when romances ended with the two running back into each others arms after a great start, a rocky middle, and an overly dramatic, but happy ending. These days movies want to keep the romances real, and Celeste and Jesse Forever follows in that line. The thing that makes this movie work is that we've probably all felt like this at some point in this in our life. While Andy works it in his role though, Rashida just comes off like a woman I would want to be really far away from.

Jesse and Celeste thought they would be a great married couple. Having been friends since high school, and dating they married, but after discovering they weren't meant for each other as they thought they have now filed for divorce. Jesse still lives in Celeste's backyard so moving on is a little confusing. When they sleep together one night the feelings begin to cross again, but Celeste turns down Jesse. He then officially decides it is time to move on, but Celeste is having doubts, and it may be too late to tell Jesse now.


The movie has a good soundtrack, good acting, and director who seems to know how to capture the vibe of the movie. Lee Toland Krieger may not be a director who you have heard of, but if he keeps churning out little films like this he may have something to build on. The story does drag a little though especially when it becomes very clear where it is going, it's only the matter of time when the character's will learn how to clean it all up.

Andy Samberg really makes a breakthrough performance as Jesse though. His past roles really haven't given him any potential, but this one shows a good blend of his comedic side along with a more mature side. I haven't seen Rashida Jones in as much, and from this I think she is a good actress who just got an unlikable character. She brings out a lot of the emotions you would feel in this circumstance, but other than that her treatment of others just doesn't seem to be something she is aware of nor cares to really examine. By the end there is some hope, but throughout the movie her swaying feelings become a tad dramatic.

Also, these people seem to be in their 30s at least, yet they are dealing with things that I don't even deal with anymore at 24. These seems like issues that at least a 20 year old would be dealing with, but how they handle them seems even less mature. They still party pretty heavy, drink like nightly! (that's got to leave you sluggish), have one night stands, and get as angst ridden as a hormonal teen. These people don't seem to have real lives outside of their real relationship drama.

Celeste and Jesse Forever tries to tackle a hugely adult topic in sort of a teenage way, but it has some heart, and does capture some relatable emotions. There are a few moments that keep the movie alive, and seeing Andy Samberg mature as an actor is worth the watch. You would think he would be the one who was juvenile in this movie, but he is one of the few who isn't.

Rating 7 of 10.