Feature Movie of the Week: Celeste and Jesse Forever

“To love and win is the best thing. To love and lose is the next best.” 
- William Makepeace Thackeray

Celeste and Jesse Forever is an absolute indie gem written by Rashida Jones and friend Will McCormack and it tells the story of Celeste (Rashida Jones) and Jesse (Andy Samberg), best friends who married young, are now separated, getting divorced and still just as much best friends as they were when they were a couple. Sound strange? Yes, it is a highly unusual situation, a separated couple who have remained great friends isn't something you see in films and TV shows very often, but that is what makes this film so great. 

 

Celeste and Jesse both start dating new people with the naive notion that they can move on without it having any impact on their relationship, but this of course is not the case. And when Jesse quickly decides to settle down with someone new, Celeste realises that, despite the fact that they have been separated for 6 months, perhaps she isn't quite as ready to move on as she thought. 
 

Jesse

"What did you want me to do? 

 Wait for you to meet someone first? 

Is that how you saw it happening?"

The supporting characters also deserve recognition as they are very entertaining and provide much comedic relief; including Emma Roberts as pop star Riley Banks, Elijah Wood as Celeste's business partner Scott, and Celeste and Jesse's mutual friends Skillz (Will McCormack), Beth (Ari Graynor) and Tucker (Eric Christian Olsen).

Celeste and Jesse Forever sublimely explores the themes of love, friendship, being alone and what it means to move on, even if you're not ready to.

 

 Standout performances:

•  Rashida Jones: You can tell she wrote this film because this part is perfect for her. The perfect balance of neurotic, charming, vulnerable and sometimes just downright sad. Celeste is a character that is proud of the fact that, in comparison to Jesse, she has it together; she has a stable job, a house, a car, her life is "right". Therefore, she finds it incredibly difficult to deal with Jesse moving on first and her being seemingly left behind, and I have to applaud Rashida for both writing and playing this very realistically flawed female character, a rarity in film.

• Andy Samberg: He is one of those comedic actors (much like Seth Rogen) who can play very hilarious, often gross characters and also much more serious, sensitive and vulnerable ones. He really shines in this film.

•  Chris Messina: I've said it before and I'll say it again, I feel like this guy steals whatever film or TV show he appears in. For some reason his performances always stick with me, no matter how minor his part is, and Celeste and Jesse Forever is no exception.

Memorable scenes:

• The reception following Tucker and Beth's wedding, Celeste simply stands outside the tent and watches everyone dancing and having fun and it is heartbreaking.
• Celeste and Jesse's fight in the street after she asks him if there is any chance they could get back together, then followed by Celeste's sad walk home which gets interrupted by a person in a bear suit giving her a resisted but well needed hug
• One of the final scenes in the film when Celeste and Jesse are signing divorce papers at their lawyers office, Celeste says, "I like that tie... is it made out of organic mung beans?" to which Jesse replies, "No, actually I found it digging through your trash" (inside jokes you would have to watch the whole film to understand) and then, much to the confusion of their lawyers, the two start laughing. It is incredibly bittersweet and a perfect note for them to end their marriage on. 

Music moments:

• Baby- Donnie and Joe Emerson

 

• No Other Plans- Sunny Levine

• Rescue Song (RAC Remix)- Mr. Little Jeans