‘Celeste and Jesse Forever’ in Theaters This Weekend

by The Hairpin Sponsors

Peter Travers of Rolling Stone calls it “irresistible” and “a breath of fresh comic air.”

The romantic travails of smart and funny young people are always fodder for light-hearted comedy — except when the light hearts are countered by heartache. Celeste and Jesse Forever transforms the conventional romantic comedy with a bracingly honest vibe, exploring both the comedy and complexity of love and friendship.

The movie stars and is co-written by Rashida Jones (Parks and Recreation, The Muppets, Our Idiot Brother) and Will McCormick (Syriana, Boiler Room), who, after dating for three weeks in the late ’90s, realized they were better suited as friends — and eventually, as writing partners. Fast forward to the summer of 2008 when they agreed upon an idea of Rashida’s that they felt could be approached with a fresh take. What if a young married couple, who grew up together, realized they should get divorced but didn’t want to lose their friendship? Is it possible to stay friends after separating? Can you preserve the best parts of a relationship without taking time to process the worst parts? Can you love someone to the moon and back but still not be ‘right’ for each other?

Ultimately, they wanted to make a comedy about a broken heart. What it’s like to endure real heartbreak. How devastating it can be, how funny, and how you feel like the whole world is ending. But the world doesn’t end. You don’t die. And you do grow.

Please check out the Celeste and Jesse Forever trailer here. Or perhaps Celeste and Jesse’s Pinterest page is a better media fit for you. Either way, the movie opens in Los Angeles and New York City this Friday, August 3, and is coming soon to other cities near you.