Emma Stone And Ryan Gosling Movies That Prove They Make The Perfect Pair
Like Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, or Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, there are some dynamic duos that were born to be on-screen together more than once. Starring in three films together, Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling have earned a place amongst the great cinematic couples of history with their effortless comedic timing, and palpable romantic chemistry.
Whether portraying a 1940s cop and a gangster's girlfriend caught in a love triangle, or a couple of Hollywood dreamers expressing their affections in dazzling song and dance sequences, this picture perfect pair lights up every movie they're in.
- 19 VOTESPhoto: Lionsgate
What It's About: This musical romance dances alongside a pair of aspiring artists as they chase their ever-elusive dreams in Los Angeles, AKA La La Land. Stone plays the starry-eyed young actress, Mia, who slings coffee drinks on a studio lot between auditions. When she meets Sebastian (Gosling), a down-on-his-luck pianist with ambitions to open his own jazz club, it isn't long before they dance their way into each other's hearts. However, the closer they get to their dreams, the further they drift from each other.
How It Shows They're A Perfect Pair: Whether they're ballroom dancing in a sea of constellations at the Griffith Observatory, or holding hands in the dark watching Rebel Without A Cause at the Rialto, Gosling and Stone shine brighter than a city of stars whenever they hit the screen together.
Memorable Moment: All of them. However, the most memorable is the tap-dancing scene. High above the Hollywood Hills - with a picturesque sunset glowing behind them - Mia and Sebastian break out into a perfectly-choreographed song and dance sequence straight out of a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers classic. While impromptu musical numbers run the the risk of being corny or over-the-top, this one folds beautifully into the fabric of their love story, showing they really are off in their own little la-la land.
Critical Reception: Paying homage to Old Hollywood musicals, La La Land received shining reviews and numerous accolades, including 14 Oscar nominations. Though some critics deemed it as “over-hyped,” its 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes speaks for itself. It's still revered as a timeless piece of cinema, much like the Golden Era classics that inspired it.
- 21 VOTESPhoto: Warner Bros. Entertainment
What It's About: In this pre-La La Land romantic comedy, Gosling plays Jacob Palmer, a suave Los Angeles bachelor with perfectly honed pick-up lines - and perfectly toned abs - to sweep any woman off her feet. While on the prowl, he meets Cal Weaver (Steve Carell), a bumbling yet lovable middle-aged man going through a divorce, and decides to teach him his playboy ways. Somewhere between shopping sprees and Old Fashioned cocktails, Jacob meets the adorably awkward Hannah (Emma Stone) who gives him a lesson in love.
How It Shows They're A Perfect Pair: In this classic case of opposites attract, Stone's girl-next-door gawkiness pairs well with Gosling's sophisticated yet unpretentious charm. Their characters compliment each other, coalescing in “the perfect combination of cute and sexy.”
Memorable Moment: When Jacob takes her back to his bachelor pad, a nervously tipsy Hannah - aware that she is one of the many women he's wooed - goads him into showing her his signature move. He humors her by switching on “(I've Had) The Time of My Life” from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, and perfectly executes the Swayze-Grey lift - literally sweeping her off her feet for a Hollywood kiss. Joke's on her, because - of course - it works.
Critical Reception: Contrary to its cynical title, Crazy, Stupid, Love was hailed by critics as a sweet romantic comedy, and performed well at the box office. Rocking a 79% score on Rotten Tomatoes, it's well-loved, even with the questionable babysitter-schoolboy crush subplot.
- 34 VOTESPhoto: Warner Bros. Entertainment
What's It About: Set against the brooding backdrop of 1940s Los Angeles, this neo-noir depicts the dark side of La La Land. When notorious mobster Mickey Cohen corrupts the city, it's up to a squad of cops to end his reign of terror. Stone plays Grace Faraday, the mobster's red-hot girlfriend - AKA “the tomato” - who secretly falls in love with Gosling's character, Sgt. Jerry Wooters, a member of the gangster squad hellbent on saving the City of Angels.
How It Shows They're A Perfect Pair: From their smoldering banter at the bar when they meet, to smoking in bed together after a tempestuous tryst, they electrify every scene they're in. They don't get a lot of screen time together in this, but when they do, they make it count.
Memorable Moment: Grace witnesses Jerry and another member of the gangster squad breaking in to wiretap Mickey Cohen's mansion. After signaling for her to stay quiet, Jerry pauses his dangerous mission to steal a steamy kiss with her in the shadowy hallway. Forbidden, life-risking romance never looked better.
Critical Reception: Despite the 1940s aesthetics bathed in nostalgic neon lights, and Stone's slinky, thigh-slit dresses, the film fell flat amongst critics due to its lackluster script and gratuitous ruthlessness. Though it has a considerably low rating on Rotten Tomatoes (31%), Stone and Gosling's on-screen chemistry is a screen-saver.
