- 89 minutes. Rated R.
Did you think I would wait for you to go first?
I have to admit, when I ordered this for the our library, I was waiting in anticipation for the Fed Ex guy. Intrigued by the trailer and always won over by the amusing Andy Samberg and the charismatic Rashida Jones (eek, what a cute couple!). Throw in a flaming gay (Elijah Wood) wearing uber trendy eyewear and it was on!
Romantic, quirky, standard rom-com gimmick, thought I . . . not at all. Celeste and Jesse Forever begins with a funny scene between the newly divorced young couple who can’t seem to “let go,” much to their friends’ chagrin. What the hell are they still doing with each other? Masturbating little chapsticks in unison private-joke-filled glee, spending every day together, and resisting the necessary need to draw boundaries now that they are officially no longer “together.”
Though Jesse (Samberg) might have an idea of why he sticks around, Celeste (the girl-crush worthy Rashida Jones and daughter to the lovely Peggy Lipton) a type-A marketing “trend spotter” has no intention of re-kindling with the aimless Jesse. That is, until he reveals his new relationship with Veronica (Rebecca Dayan), and their pregnancy status to her. Suddenly, feelings resurface, some gentle spying through the new couples trash must happen, and the unexpected upshot occurs: Jesse moves on and Celeste, though dazed (as much foresight as she has for trends, she certainly doesn’t see this coming), must face reality. That doesn’t happen until Celeste first realizes that her decision to divorce Jesse was impulsive and ill-thought, and when Jesse reasonably conveys to her that she has made her bed and now she much lie in it, she has no other choice. Unprepared for this reaction and incapable of feeling peace in her decision, she copes with-what else: excessive pot smoking and a drinking until she becomes a withering heap of regret on her floor.
Jones and Samberg are a movie match made in big picture heaven. They bring the necessary chemistry and humor needed to buy into this unique relationship. Props to Jones for being able to write, produce, and act in one flick.
My one critique is that in the beginning the cuteness was a bit gimmicky and annoying, especially not fully feeling committed to Jesse and Celeste’s goofy dynamic right away. I found myself feeling like a third wheel irritated by their flippant behavior post split, much like their friends Beth (Ari Graynor) and Steve (Eric Christian Olsen) when they are out to dinner. But overall, I think it lived up to my expectations. Celeste and Jesse Forever is a unique take on a modern relationship dilemma.
