Movie Information

Stuck in Love

Stuck in Love

Released: July 5, 2013

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Soundrack Albums

Song Credits

  • "Schemers"
    Performed by SKATERS
    Written by Michael Ian Cummings and Noah Rubin
    By arrangement with Razor & Tie Direct, LLC
  • "Home"
    Performed by Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros
    Written by Alexander Ebert and Jade Allyson Castrinos
    Courtesy of Community Music Group / Fairfax Recordings / Vagrant Records
  • "End Run"
    Performed by Cloudbirds
    Written by Joseph W. King, Glenn Rischke and Josh Chicoine
    By arrangement with Ghost Town, Inc.
  • "A Mountain, A Peak"
    Performed by Bill Ricchini
    Written by Bill Ricchini
    Courtesy of Transdreamer Ltd.
    By arrangement with Bank Robber Music
  • "Tokyo"
    Performed by Chinatown
    Written by Jeffrey A. Freundlich, Jared Gill and Otto D'Agnolo
    Courtesy of Fervor Records
    By arrangement with Wild Whirled Music
  • "Polkadot"
    Performed by Like Pioneers
    Written by Dan Fleury and Bobby Gallivan
    By arrangement with Ghost Town, Inc.
  • "American Man"
    Performed by Rio Bravo
    Written by Edward Sumpter, Bryan Davis, Christian Black and Micah Kolk
  • "No Time to Speak"
    Performed by Bear Driver
    Written by Oli Deakin and Harry Dean
    Licensed courtesy of Electric Lady Studios o/b/o Adventure Club Records
  • "Martian Rings"
    Performed by Jesse Voccia
    Written by Jesse Voccia
    Courtesy of Agami Music
  • "Are We Just Doomed"
    Performed by SKATERS
    Written by Michael Ian Cummings and Noah Rubin
    By arrangement with Razor & Tie Direct, LLC
  • "Will You Be By Me"
    Performed by Wallpaper Airplanes
    Written by Joshua James Henry
    Courtesy of RipTide Music Inc.
  • "Beach Baby"
    Performed by Bon Iver
    Written by Justin Vernon
    Courtesy of Jagjaguwar
    By arrangement with Bank Robber Music
  • "Love You Any Less"
    Performed by Nat and Alex Wolff
    Written by Nat Wolff
  • "Between the Bars"
    Performed by Elliot Smith
    Written by Steven Paul Smith
    Courtesy of Universal Music - Careers on behalf of itself and Spent Bullets Music
    Courtesy of Kill Rock Stars
    By arrangement with Terrorbird Media
  • "Gospel"
    Performed by The National
    Written by Matthew Berninger and Aaron Dessner
    Licensed courtesy of 4AD
    By arrangement with Beggars Group Media Limited
  • "Body to Body"
    Performed by Electric Valentine
    Written by Chris Qualls, Lauren Baird, Sami Diament and Sarah Hudson
  • "2 That Top"
    Performed by Tarik NuClothes
    Written by John Costello, David Hilker, Markell Parker and Tarik Holder
    Courtesy of Fervor Records
    By arrangement with Muzik Headz
  • "The Calendar Hung Itself"
    Performed by Bright Eyes
    Written by Conor Oberst
    Courtesy of Saddle Creek
  • "You Are Your Mother's Child"
    Performed by Conor Oberst
    Written by Saddle Creek
  • "At Your Door"
    Performed by Big Harp, Mike Mogis and Nathaniel Walcott
    Written by Stefanie Drootin-Senseney, Chris Senseney, Mike Mogis
    and Nathaniel Walcott
  • "Somersaults in Spring"
    Performed by Friends of Gemini
    Written by Corina Figueroa Escamilla, Mike Mogis and Nathaniel Walcott

Review: Stuck in Love

by Sean Saulsbury October 16, 2013
4 / 5 Stars

First time writer/director Josh Boone brings us a charming, not-so-rosy but emotionally rewarding drama, Stuck in Love, about a family of writers. Thematically, the movie manages to cover the gamut of love in its various states and stages—and with a refreshing dose of authenticity.

Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Connelly play a divorced couple, and Kinnear's character is vying to win back his ex-wife's affection while also having an affair with a married woman (Kristen Bell). This is accomplished, not with cynicism, but grace and understanding. This situation is crazy enough that it is funny but believable, thanks in part to Kinnear's strong and subtle performance.

The two kids, played by Lilly Collins and Nat Wolff, have their own struggles in love. The daughter, a college student who is having her first novel published, has a cynical view of love and uses sex to keep a safe distance from men. Her brother, a virgin high school student, pines after the girl of his dreams but does not have the guts to talk to her.

Everyone in this family is challenged, love-wise: The father to let go, the mother to hold on, the son to be bold and make his move, and the daughter to open up an be vulnerable. Often they challenge each other, sometimes with love and encouragement and sometimes with anger and rage. The net result is that this feels like a real family.

This is an enjoyable picture to watch because it rewards its audience for paying close attention to detail, especially about the characters and the performances themselves. Sometimes a character will act stupid, or naive, or is too forgiving—or not forgiving enough—but then something is revealed in an "ah ha" moment that, upon reflection, results in a quiet "ah, yes" nod understanding. Further, every character has something unique to identify with, and it is easy to root for all them to succeed in their endeavors.

However, one minor quibble but worth mentioning is that a final scene on the beach between Kinnear and Collins (the daughter) feels rushed and unnatural. It's clear what the director is trying to accomplish, so we get the idea, but it is not convincing.

Songs are well placed throughout and the soundtrack re-creates the movie's feel and is worth a buy, especially for the acoustic "You Are Your Mother's Child" song by Conor Oberst. The original score by Mike Mogis and Nate Walcott is serviceable but at times cliche and with its mostly slow and contemplative style. It works in context but does not make a strong stand-alone album. The composers also penned two of the songs in the film "At Your Door" and "Somersault In Spring", enjoyable and available on the Stuck in Love: The Writers Playlist album.

Stuck in Love is a good warm-up-for-the-holidays kind of movie. Bookended by scenes of Thanksgiving dinners, we are taken on a journey that reminds us that when it comes to love, we indeed are often stuck—sometimes for the worse and, sometimes, for the better.

This movie was screened at the reviewer's home via an HD stream from Amazon Instant Video (full price paid).

more reviews by Sean Saulsbury
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