Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Celeste and Jesse Forever Blu-ray Movie Review

"Forever" ain't what it used to be.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman January 25, 2013

We are separated and we are friends.

That pretty much sums it up, at least on the surface. But of course there's more to Celeste and Jesse than a one-line summation. Here's a Romantic Comedy about a couple, er, ex-couple, er, scratch that, sort of ex-couple, but definitely best friends that, after six years of marriage, has decided to call it quits but chosen to remain inseparably close -- close both in a physical, non-romantic sense and in a more inward, emotionally-driven sense -- and maintaining most every status quo of their marital relationship except for sharing the same bed at night. It's a story of how deeply held inward emotions are balanced against gut feelings, physical attraction, disagreement, and peer pressure. It's a wannabe deep character study wrapped up in something of an offbeat comedic hip-and-happeing cutting-edge modern narrative that won't appeal to all audiences but that should at least strike a deeper chord considering its unusual premise and fair exploration thereof. Unfortunately, the movie doesn't always dig as deeply as it should; it's seemingly content to focus more on the superficial aspects of the relationship unless it's dramatically convenient to the contrary. Still, the picture offers a solid premise that's fairly executed, well acted, but not the most accessible-to-all-comers movie ever to hit theaters or home video shelves.

Friends...slowly drift apart...they give away their hearts...

Celeste (Rashida Jones, Our Idiot Brother) and Jesse (Andy Samberg, That's My Boy) are coming off of a six-year marriage in which they "used to fight all the time." Divorce papers are drawn up but the two aren't quite ready to split. In fact, they've stayed together, building upon a friendship that once led to marriage and is now keeping two people no longer in love all but intimate with one another. She's a pop culture trend forecaster and a recently published author; he's an unemployed artist with no real drive to land a job. Their lovely-dovey best-friend routine irritates their friends Beth (Ari Graynor, The Sitter) and Tucker (Eric Christian Olsen, The Thing), so much so that they walk away from a double date. Celeste and Jesse are left to reanalyze their relationship. While Celeste is playing the dating game and is hard at work dealing with a low-talent pop sensation named Riley (Emma Roberts, Scream 4), Jesse hooks up with a European girl named Veronica (Rebecca Dayan, Limitless) with whom he commits to making a lasting relationship. But no matter how far they might drift apart, it seems nothing can keep them separated. Will the divorce go through, or will best friends rekindle a love that seems like it never faded in the first place?

Celeste and Jesse Forever does its best to intermix comedy with drama, resulting in a movie proficient at both but expert in neither. Beyond a few awkward and overplayed moments, it's a fairly enjoyable, obviously well-crafted, and halfway novel little venture that might have benefited from a more through exploration of its dramatic components and a little bit less of the cutting-edge, hipster attitude that pulsates through the film. Celeste and Jesse Forever struggles to maintain its pace under the constraints of an idea that's sound but spread a bit too thin here. The film spends much of its time rehashing the same emotional currents, comedic moments, and dramatic overtones; it's a cinematic soap opera that over-promises and under-delivers for much of its runtime. Nevertheless, the movie enjoys enough plusses to warrant a watch, even with the need to wade through some fluff. It's easy to become absorbed in the general premise and take the journey with the characters as they attempt to move on with their lives while at the same time trying to resolve an attachment that cannot go away, that seemingly cannot co-exist with the new direction they've taken. It's also easy to be turned off by a somewhat unfulfilled promise and iffy characters.

That leads to the film's major problem, which is character likability and the difficulties in relating with them. The two main characters are largely paint by numbers sorts with little depth beyond what's sprinkled on the surface and even less of an arc beyond where the general premise necessarily takes them. The film rarely digs deep enough to find a firm grasp on their true emotions, settling instead for scene after scene of superficial spice that's sometimes funny and sometimes mind-numbing but more often than not the former. The picture does little to let its characters fully explore and develop the pieces of the relationship that remain, and the result is an overabundance of fluff and concentration on outward character traits rather than inward character feelings. The cast plays it as well as it can, though; Andy Samberg and Rashida Jones show a good chemistry together in those many superficially oriented scenes, and they try their best to find the emotional currents necessary to shape them further than the script generally allows.

Celeste and Jesse Forever Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Celeste and Jesse Forever's high definition transfer will satisfy viewers for quite a long time to come. Sony's Blu-ray presentation is, as expected, right up there with the best of them, delivering a clean and accurate image that does everything almost perfectly and nothing terribly. The image is crystal-clear and very well detailed. Facial and clothing textures are superb, well-defined down to the finest little nuance; check out Celeste's white sweater as seen in chapter twelve as a great example of the natural appearance of garments in the film. The image's standout clarity and attention to detail allow for crisp, accurate images in backgrounds both near and far from the frame. The color palette is striking and true, maybe just a hair dim at times but offering every shade with commendable precision and natural accuracy. Black levels are fine and flesh tones as they should be. Very slight banding creeps into a few shots, but noise is practically nonexistent, ditto other unwanted eyesores. Another release, another tip-top effort from Sony.

Celeste and Jesse Forever Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Celeste and Jesse Forever features the standard sort of RomCom/Drama DTS-HD Master 5.1 audio track. That is to say that it's technically proficient but sonically underwhelming in comparison to more aggressive soundtracks. Nevertheless, Sony's presentation acquits itself quite nicely. Music features centered vocals (rather scratchy in the opening tune, but deliberately so) and very clear, evenly and naturally spaced notes across the front portion of the listening area. A good, tight, natural bass line provides a natural body to the music. Bass does get a bit muddled and sloppy -- but deliberately so -- at some parties, notably in chapter nine and again in chapter fifteen. There's good little background ambience in several scenes, particularly at restaurants and at a wedding later in the movie. Dialogue is main component here, however; it plays clearly and accurately from the center with no hiccups in clarity or intelligibility. All in all, this is a rather forgettable track but one that carries out its duties as well as can be expected.

Celeste and Jesse Forever Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Celeste and Jesse Forever's supplemental package is dominated by the pair of commentary tracks, but not to be overlooked are deleted scenes and a making-of.

• Audio Commentary: Actors Rashida Jones & Andy Samberg offer a loose and light commentary in which they revel in the language they can use in this track, praise they way they look in the film, and engage in various silly behaviors and spout sarcastic comments. But they also offer some fair insights into the shoot, cast and performances, music in the film, and other general commentary elements. As the actors say, listeners will know early on if they want to listen. Fans of the movie will likely stick around. Those more indifferent towards it will probably shut it off before too long. With optional English subtitles.
• Audio Commentary: Director Lee Toland Krieger and Actors Rashida Jones and Will McCormack offer a more balanced and straightforward commentary. It covers the usual commentary themes that don't really need to be regurgitated here. There's still an underlying humor to the track but not anywhere near the colorful commentary above. This is the more casual of the two tracks and the one most viewers will want to hear. With optional English subtitles.
• The Making of Celeste and Jesse Forever (HD, 13:51): Cast and crew speak on the character arcs, the film's plot, the film's modern sensibilities, and the scriptwriting process. Director Lee Toland Krieger carries the piece well and speaks convincingly on the film's attributes.
• On the Red Carpet: Premiere and Q&A (HD, 14:08): Interview snippets with cast and crew before the film's premiere and a group Q&A session with the audience. From the L.A. Film Fest, June 21, 2012.
• Chris Pine Outtakes (HD, 1:13).
• Deleted Scenes (HD, 2:57): I Guess I'm Getting It, Can I Show You Something?, and Do Any of You Have Jobs?.
• Celeste and Jesse Theatrical Trailer (HD, 2:13).
• Previews: Additional Sony titles.

Celeste and Jesse Forever Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Celeste and Jesse Forever shows potential but never quite finds a consistent rhythm or a greater dramatic purpose. The plot is ripe for a more balanced exploration but fails to march on beyond the superficial. The film is the antithesis in almost every way of the wonderful Hope Springs, that film about saving a long marriage, this one about giving up on a short one, that film a more calm and subtly funny experience, this one more hip and boisterous. They're two different films for two completely different stories and audiences, but a good comparative study in recent films dealing with failing marriages. Celeste and Jesse Forever still offers solid entertainment and quality performances, but it never captures the same magic of Hope Springs, nor does it fully deliver on a fascinating dynamic. Sony's Blu-ray release of Celeste and Jesse Forever features tip-top video and audio to go along with a good assortment of extras. Recommended to fans, worth a rental for those curious about the film.