Like Crazy is exactly the type of movie I like to see being released, a romance that goes against convention and typical Hollywood tropes to tell a story ripe with meaning and honesty. Brimming with a new kind of energy, the film is at once a simple story of love and life, while at the same time presenting complex ideals and emotions.

Director Drake Doremus has fashioned a very uniquely fresh romantic film, as he follows the ups and downs of young lovers separated from each other as they struggle to stay devoted to each other time zones away. The set-up at once straight-forward and very unique: Anna (Felicity Jones) is a British foreign-exchange who falls for her TA, Jacob (Anton Yelchin) near the end of her university studies in Los Angeles. Through a series of visually and stylistically unique series of glimpses into their relationship as it blossoms, Doremus establishes their relationship and the love they share for each other fairly quickly.

Anna and Jacob are young and foolish, and as Anna graduates and prepares to go back to England for the summer, the world seems to stop for this young couple. Because of this, they commit their first major mistake in spending the summer together instead of parting company. In doing so, Anna knowingly violates her student visa and their lives change because of this seemingly small mistake.

Eventually, the bliss of their shared company must come to an end and Anna is forced to return to England for a wedding, with the knowledge she will return to LA the following week. Only this plan doesn’t exactly pan out, as upon return to the States, Anna is denied entrance due to her visa violation. Life goes on. Jacob and Anna are still madly in love with each other, and Jacob visits when he can, but his work as a furniture designer seems to get in the way and they slowly grow apart. In fact, it appears as if they have both moved on until Anna begins to realize her life is simply incomplete without Jacob in it.

Thus begins the struggle to stay together at all means possible. Doremus has created an artistically unique vision of a love story, as both Felicity Jones and Anton Yelchin create a believable and at times mesmerizing relationship as they deal with their emotions and caring for each other in different and extremely real ways. The separation for months on end draws them closer and farther apart with each visit. There are times where they try seeing other people, as Jacob begins seeing a very kind and beautiful co-worker in LA named Sam (played by Jennifer Lawrence). Anna even begins seeing a guy named Simon (Charlie Bewley), much to her parents’ (played by the hilarious and warm Alex Kingston and Oliver Muirhead) dismay.

Like Crazy is by no means a straight-forward Hollywood love story, it deals with challenging questions about love and its impact on the world. This is no warm and fluffy love story. Instead, Doremus has created an extremely real and poignant look at how real-world obstacles can affect a relationship, and the consequences of life decisions. Yelchin and Jones create a chemistry and innocence to their characters that make their mistakes all the more painful to witness.

There are some issues, particularly with the development of their relationship, as the narrative swiftly navigates through the beginning of their relationship. Additionally, I could not help but wonder why Jacob simply didn’t move to England instead, which seemed both reasonable and an easy solution. Thankfully, the film does not completely avoid this notion for the entirety of the film.

These are small gripes that don’t affect the emotional complexity of the film, and Doremus and company have created refreshingly sincere and intimate take on a classic tale of young romance and love. All this coupled with young talent makes for a very enjoyable and touching movie-going experience, as I was as enthralled by the film and its stars as they were by each other.

Grade: A-

Rating: PG-13 (For sexual content and brief strong language.)