‘Celeste and Jesse Forever’ (2012) Review

Celeste and Jesse Forever Synopsis: A divorcing couple tries to maintain their friendship while they both pursue other people.

College sweethearts Jesse and Celeste have decided to separate. The only problem is that they still hang out and act like best friends, which weirds out their friends. It’s a complicated situation made all the more complex by their attempts to date other people while maintaining their friendship. When Jesse gives up on any hope of reconciliation with Celeste, he begins a relationship with another woman, sending Celeste spiraling into self-doubt, regret, and insecurity.

This romantic comedy is not at all what it appears to be. I went into Celeste and Jesse Forever not entirely sure what to expect. But as Rashida Jones has stated, she wanted to write a romantic comedy about a breakup rather than a happily ever after, and that’s precisely what Celeste and Jesse Forever gives you.

Rashida Jones and Andy Samberg are perfectly matched as Celeste and Jesse. They have an incredibly natural rapport, and it’s easy to believe they’ve been together since college. Usually known for his overtly comedic roles, Samberg shows his range as a man clinging to a relationship that no longer fits. As Celeste, Jones proves how worthy she is of leading roles. Most of the film is about Celeste’s journey from being the woman in Jesse’s life to not knowing who she is without him. While Jesse moves on, Celeste seems to be stuck in limbo.

After thinking about the movie for a few days, I realized how rare it is to watch a believable romantic comedy. Rom-coms usually guarantee a happy ending, and while you could look at Celeste and Jesse Forever as a movie that subverts the genre, it really doesn’t. There is a happy ending; it’s just not what you expect from a romantic comedy. But that’s what I appreciated about it.

If I had to find something to complain about, it would be Emma Roberts’s small role as a vapid pop singer who hires Celeste’s firm for her marketing. The subplot seemed out of place and somewhat pointless other than to give Celeste a young, hip friend to talk to while her life imploded. I didn’t understand the point, and it took me out of the movie’s rhythm anytime Riley came on screen.

That being said, Jones and her co-writer Will McCormack deliver an intelligent script with a beautiful love story at the heart of it. With gorgeous cinematography and excellent performances, Celeste and Jesse Forever is absolutely one of the better “rom-coms” I’ve watched in the past few months. Samberg and Jones have grown on me a lot, and I hope to see them in more nuanced roles.

Watched: 01/23/2021
Notable Song: (You) Got What I Need by Freddie Scott