New Release Review: Celeste and Jesse Forever (Lee Toland Krieger, 2012)

Celeste and Jesse Forever, a charming little oddball romantic comedy with dramatic punch, really took me by surprise. While I am willing to give anything starring the lovely Rashida Jones (I Love You Man, The Office) a go, I didn’t expect it to resonate as strongly as it did, nor be so entertaining.

Celeste (Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samburg) have been best friends for a long time, but after six years of marriage they have begun to realise that it’s just not working out. Celeste is a workaholic, a successful trend analyser who runs her own media company with her partner, Scott (Eljah Wood), while Jesse is an unemployed artist who has moved into the studio at the rear of the house. In what can only be described as a peculiar relationship, they hang out regularly, car pool and still mess about like they’re together. However, after some time without any development in their relationship, Jesse decides to start dating. Celeste pretends to be happy for him, but when he proves her pessimism wrong and finds himself in a stable relationship before she does, she spirals into a state of confusion, contempt and self-pity, struggling to accept losing him forever.

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