#REVIEW – “CELESTE & JESSE FOREVER” ON DVD

Fans of 2009’s Away We Go will love Celeste & Jesse Forever.   The Romantic Dramedy follows a pair of Highschool Sweethearts whom after five years of Marriage, decide they’re just not meant for one another.  They vow to remain Friends even through the Divorce, while seeing others.  Jesse (Andy Samberg) is free-spirited and still finding himself as a person, while Celeste (Rashida Jones) is successful and established in her Career Path. This puts her  on a separate plain from him, perpertually causing a snag in their relationship.  Both have grown apart, yet still have a bit of growing to do. As they openly pursue others, Celeste struggles to move on being emotionally dependent still on her Ex, while Jesse gets involved with another Woman, which ultimately threatens their Friendship and complicates matters too as he isn’t quite fully detached from Celeste either.

Directed by Lee Toland Krieger and Co-written by Actor Will McCormack and Jones herself, Celeste & Jesse Forever thoughtfully explores the complexities of Post-Modern Relationships, exploring the changing paradigm of breaking-up amicably, while looking also at the consequences of what happens when you don’t have closure.  Several, thanks to Jones’ sympathetic portrayal, will relate to Celeste’s on-the-surace surface toughness and terrifying fear of being alone and losing control; she is transparently vulnerable and that is partly why she is so likeable.  Samberg tries something completely new and fresh here, while still  familiar in all his boyishness here and that is a good thing.  Together, they are irresistible, playing off each other in some of the Film’s more tender and sweet moments.

Elijah Wood as a Celeste‘s tryingly-gay Confidante Scott, delivers great laughs, hyper-aware of his own awkwardness.  Meanwhile, Chris Messina (who coincidentally starred in Away We Go also) as Celeste‘s ill-timed potential love interest Paul  is totally likeable, peeling layers off Celeste’s complex Character for us as we witness her Transition.

A major reason why the Film is so enjoyable is the selection of Songs chosen here, courtesy of Music Supervisor Jonathan Hafter,  enhancing the moods we experience here significantly.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment releases the charming and heartfelt Celeste & Jesse Forever on DVD and Blu-ray on February 5, 2013.  Click here to order.