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Larry Crowne: Movie Review

Damon Houx — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 01:00:49 +0000

Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts are movie stars in a world that no longer respects stardom. Studios are more interested these days in titles that have name brand recognition (it requires less work) and so the two appearing together in a film in 2011 means that it’s met with a curious indifference. Shouldn’t Larry Crowne be a bigger deal? Well, like the film itself, the appeal is mellow and surprisingly unassuming, and it’s pleasures are more in what it’s not (loud and dumb) than what it is (a formulaic romantic comedy). Find out more below…

The Players:

Director: Tom Hanks
Screenplay: Tom Hanks, Nia Vardalos
Actors: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Cedric the Entertainer, Taraji P. Henson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Wilmer Valderrama
Original Music by: James Newton Howard
Cinematography by: Philippe Rousselot

The Story:

Larry Crowne (Hanks) thinks his life is pretty perfect until he gets fired from his job for not having a college education. Looking for work, he finds few opportunities, so he heads back to school, where he meets Mercedes Tainot (Roberts) his speech teacher. Talia (Mbatha-Raw) is a free spirit who sees that Larry also rides a scooter, and so she decides to help fix up his life, while his interest in Miss Tainot – whose marriage is crumbling, and who drinks to excess – simmers.

The Good:

The Ensemble: As the film was written by actors, there’s a sense that every performer has an internal life and there own story. As such – for a film that ambles along – the sense of community enlivens the picture. And since the film, like its star, aims for likeability, that’s enough to make this a pleasant enough sit-through.
Julia Roberts: Written to her strengths, she gets to play bitchy and bubbly. Both suit her well, and it’s fun to watch her play either giddy or hungover. It’s also nice to see her in a part where she’s playing her age, but not in an awkward or demeaning way.
The Message: Crowne is about someone dealing with life after it goes off the course they thought it would be on. It’s a film of minor triumphs, and though that low-key vibe may be so low that it feels vacuous, Hanks as a director respects his characters enough to not go for over the top theatrics.

The Bad:

The Manic Pixie Dream Girl: The innovation – such as it is – with this film is that like so many romantic comedies, there’s a woman who enters a depressed man’s life and turns it around, but here that’s not the romantic interest. Still, it’s the same sort of thing, and it’s a silly cliche that needs working over.
Slight: Crowne works on its own terms, but it’s the sort of film that leaves your memory shortly after watching it, and little happens that isn’t predicable based on the genre and having seen the trailer. Most movies are predictable, but there’s nothing about the film that makes it something to rush to theaters to see, unless you watch enough movies that the thought of seeing one starring two adults is enough of a motivator.
The End Credits: Few films have done as good a job at sending people out of the theater one the film ends.

Overall:

As a film of modest pleasures, the film succeeds, but like it’s main character, the film’s goals are small and manageable. It works on those terms, but only just.

Rating: 7/10

Larry Crowne hits theaters July 1.

Gallery:

Trailer:

Interview: Nia Varadalos on writing Larry Crowne

Damon Houx — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:10:48 +0000

Nia Vardalos is one of the great cinematic success stories. She wrote and starred in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which was a film with mostly unknowns and a few C-list talents that never expected to do much more than art house business. And yet it became a runaway success and launched her into a number of projects that tried to reheat that success. Tom Hanks saw that talent, and hired her to help him write Larry Crowne, which opens July 1. We got a chance to talk with Vardalos, check it out…

You guys started working on this before the recession which I thought was very clairvoyant of you. Did you start in 2006?

Nia Vardalos: It’s much earlier than that. It was Tom’s idea. He came to me. I think it was around 2005, 2006. I was at Playtone developing My Life in Ruins and Tom said “I have an idea for a movie. Do you want to write it?” I describe this entire process as a series of “be cool, be cool, my face!” “What?” “Be cool, be cool.” “Yeah, sure, oh yeah.” We sat down at his office and he laid out the entire idea. It was very clear in his head of what would happen if a man at 50 years old lost his job through no fault of his own, just downsizing, and had to reinvent himself. He wanted to keep it as a very quiet story and a very simple, streamlined idea. I think Tom’s approach is very much he is the everyman because the way things happen to him is what he wanted to do.

As you were writing it, did you realize things were starting to turn?

NV: Tom Hanks is friends with Barack Obama so I think that Tom and Barack have caused this economic crisis so that the film would be successful. (laughs) There’s a relevance to Larry Crowne that is fortunate and unfortunate, but this is not a downer movie. It’s what can happen if you keep your heart open. I certainly have lived that too. When we were trying to become parents, I thought the only way to become a parent was either to have a biological child or adopt an infant, and when I opened my heart and thought of different ways, we ended up finding our perfect daughter in American foster care. And that is what I think Tom has, this optimism and this way of looking at things and to stay open, and that’s what Larry Crowne does.

Why didn’t you write a role for yourself in this film and what are the personal notes and stuff you added to what Tom Hanks did as far as characters on a large scale?

NV: The way we wrote was the “no rules” way. Neither one of us had an ego or a feeling of ownership of the script. Sometimes we would sit in a room and write together. Sometimes I would take the draft. Sometimes he would take the draft and go on vacation and write and then bring it back. I loved that process. It felt like it was very honest in that we were just trying to write a story, but neither one of us was trying to force our own ideas into it. I thought he was incredibly smart to create a character for Julia Roberts that was interesting and had depth and was not perfect – you know, the romantic comedy heroine who falls a lot – I can make fun of it because I’ve done it. He wanted to create something much more real. I think I had a secret plan that I was going to play one of the sisters. We had a whole family in the first and the second draft, a whole family that’s up in his grill when he loses his job and wants to help or not help or whatever, and then we realized that maybe it would be better to cut the entire family so that Tom is just an island. When he doesn’t have an income anymore, what does he do? We felt it was more indicative of what is happening to people globally. The writer in me always fights with the actress. There’s always that. So, without thinking, I went “Okay, so the family’s gone” and then went back to the whiteboard and didn’t even think like “What are you going to play? Oh well.” But they’re so lovely to me that I play the voice of the GPS, so yes, I will be getting some SAG residuals from this movie, thank you very much. And my husband is in it, by the way. My husband is so naïve. That was Perry’s Pie Shop, and then, of course, Tom found Frank’s in the Valley and he cast my husband as Frank, and then we got there and my husband went “This is so lucky that you found a place called Frank’s!” I was like “Oh honey, no, we changed the name. No.”

You mentioned Tom wanted to write this for Julia. Was she part of the writing process the whole time and did you write to the voice of the other actors who had been cast? And at any point was Crowne’s ex-wife in the story?

NV: (Roberts) was on our wish list and then Tom sent her the draft. I believe they had a conversation after that and he did some tweaking for her. I remember just being so thrilled that she liked it, thrilled for my friend – because I knew that he wanted to please her and have her be drawn to the project. The reason that we cut the ex-wife was because Tom felt that it was a movie moment that you would expect to see and so we didn’t ever shoot it. She was never in the final draft.

Is there anything in your own life – with friends or colleagues – where you saw the effects of the depression and recession and unemployment in their lives which you were able to address in this script?

NV: I think what we both drew from is our years as actors trying to make a living. It’s not like when you suddenly become a working actor. All your friends are in the same lucky situation. I have friends who are still handing out flyers for their one-woman show and are trying to make ends meet by waitressing and doing all the wonderful jobs that we all do to try to make a living. Larry will do anything to make a living and that is indicative I think globally and much more so in this country. People are just trying to get by.

You mentioned your husband is in this movie and Rita Wilson is in this movie and you were recently on Cougar Town this last season. Can you talk a little bit about working with your significant other and how that is a process?

NV: When I’m writing in my office, it’s right by our daughter’s bedroom. I’m in there usually and that means that Ian is watching TV at night by himself. So, he’ll walk by and he’ll go “Who are you kissing now?!” That’s usually what he knows I’m writing. And then, I try to get him to be in everything because it’s a chance to see each other. We don’t necessarily want to play romantic leads opposite each other because we just don’t think that “Oh, we’re so cute!” and that people want to pay $14 to watch us kiss. Gross! But we do like to be on the set with each other, making fun of each other. In My Life in Ruins, he plays the hotel clerk. We shot that on our anniversary and his goal of the day was to get me fired by making me laugh on camera. Also, in Larry Crowne, I was really thrilled when Tom said “What are we going to get Ian to play?” It’s just so sweet and it’s nice to be around each other. On Cougar Town, they let us improvise actually which was a mistake with two Second City actors. We were like “Move the furniture!!” We had a great time.

You’re very fortunate to have two of the world’s biggest movie stars in this film which no doubt will be a boon in terms of getting audiences to come and see it. But in a summer where there are a lot of special effect films and blockbusters, what type of challenges are you guys facing with a film whose topic is not necessarily the most upbeat?

NV: Well this is where we would appeal to you. We are all saying the same thing. Reviewers say it, audiences say it, we all say we want adult movies and this is a movie that we strived to keep uplifting about a very real topic. It’s a romantic comedy about something that is relevant. So, the fine line that I think Tom walks so well is to keep it light and quippy and Tom Hanks-like and earnest and charming, which is everything that this man actually is and he imbued the film with. Why? Because otherwise you’re going to be reviewing and we’re just going to be acting in Transformers 12. I also will go to that movie. I love all movies. I went to X-Men. I went to Bridesmaids. I love movies. But, in order to keep a variety out there of movies that we want to see, you want to write about, and I want to be in, I’m asking you to support this film and help us out and get the word out and tell people it’s not a downer. We’re so proud of it, and what I was telling Rob as well, it’s a simple movie. It’s got almost a grace to it and that’s what I admired about Tom. He didn’t give into obviously what we know would sell – so boobs and car crashes, which I love! They’re not in this movie.

What are you working on next?

NV: I’m writing a Fox Studios pilot for television that I will probably direct and play a smaller part in, and I’ve written something for Walden Studios called Happy Mother’s Day about four moms who run away from home. I’m writing an script with Rob Riggle who is in Larry Crowne. We met on the set and made each other laugh so hard in the shoe aisle at K-Mart — I mean, U-Mart — that we decided to just write together. For my next project, I’m going to Winnipeg to play the mom in the American Girl Doll movie and you know why I took that part. You know it. I get to go home and I get to be a hero to my daughter.

Which would like to do more – write or act?

NV: I wrote an article for Elle Magazine Canada where I admitted that I really, really don’t like writing at all. It’s very lonely. It’s very daunting. I have a voice in my head the whole time telling me I’m a fraud and no one will buy it and you just click away and click away and just push through. I, like most writers, love having written. Love that. But it’s not that satisfying. This was the first time, on this project, that I felt grateful to be a writer on that set. I got to go to the set every day and watch and learn. I treated it like film school. I became very proud to be a member of the WGA. Again, I’m very grateful to be working always but it’s not what I want to do. I write so that I can act.

Larry Crowne opens July 1. Check it out.

Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts Romance in Larry Crowne Trailer

Damon Houx — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 19:46:43 +0000

Universal is releasing Larry Crowne - which was co-written, directed and stars Tom Hanks - on July 1. In the film he appears alongside Julia Roberts with a murderer’s row of support, including Breaking Bad‘s Bryan Cranston, Oscar nominee Taraji P. Henson, Blaxploitation legend Pam Grier, and comedians Cedric the Entertainer and Rob Riggle. The film is about a middle aged man reinventing himself after he gets laid off, and – maybe, just maybe – finding love. At once it’s obvious that this is a movie starring two of the biggest A-listers on the planet, but it’s also strange to see a character-driven dramedy released in the action-packed summer months. Take a look at the trailer…

The main element that’s going to make or break this movie is tone. Larry Crowne comes across a little broad in the trailer, and the baggage put on the main character – like the moped – could turn the audience against the loveable loser. Films like these are always balancing acts. The other problem the film might face is that for many getting laid off or being worried about being laid off is too real for the start of a romantic comedy.

Hanks wrote the script with My Big Fat Greek Wedding‘s Nia Vardalos. Post-Wedding, Vardalos has struggled to recapture the success of that runaway hit. Perhaps working with Hanks will put her back into the mainstream. Vardalos also appears in the film.

Larry Crowne stars two adults looking to figure out their lives, and that seems refreshing with so much of cinema geared toward a much younger audience. At the same time it also makes the film seem like a risk, or something from another era. The last time Hanks and Roberts paired up, they made Charlie Wilson’s War, which was both an awards and box office disappointment. That though was political, this is not.

Are Hanks and Roberts the new Tracy and Hepburn?

Movie Releases: Public Enemies, Ice Age, I Hate Valentine’s Day

Anet Hovhanesian — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:29:44 +0000

Sadly it looks like Michael Mann’s Public Enemies is not going to top this week’s box office, Ice Age and Transformers are just too powerful. But aside from all the mega-films we have coming out, it seems foreign movies with subtitles are trying to take over. We have the Anne Fontaine’s sex thriller, The Girl From Monaco starring an international list of stars such as Fabrice Luchini, Roschdy Zem and Stephane Audran. Then the story of an obsessed dancer who wants to be John Tavolta in Saturday Night Fever in Pablo Larrain’s Tony Manero. Finally, we have the autobiography of writer/director Agnes Varda in a film titled Beaches of Agnes. Although they will only be released in limited theaters, they are a good example of international actors/directors coming up in America.

The there is I Hate Valentine’s Day. Not only does Nia Vardalos star in the movie, she also directs it. This film re-unites her with her My Big Fat Greek Wedding’s co-star John Corbett. The title itself makes me want to watch it.

Here are the movies coming out July 3rd:

Public Enemies | Screencrave Review | Reviews | Tickets and Showtimes
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs | Reviews | Tickets and Showtimes
I Hate Valentine’s Day | Reviews | Tickets and Showtimes
Tony Manero | Reviews | Tickets and Showtimes
The Girl From Monaco | Reviews | Tickets and Showtimes
Beaches of Agnes | Reviews | Tickets and Showtimes
Local Color | Reviews | Tickets and Showtimes

Watch the trailers below:

Public Enemies:

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs:

I Hate Valentine’s Day:

Tony Manero (With Subtitles):

The Girl From Monaco (With Subtitles):

Beaches of Agnes (With Subtitles):

Local Color:

Tell us what you think of the movies coming out this week? Any favorites?

Movie Review: My Life In Ruins

Anet Hovhanesian — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 21:15:22 +0000

If you don’t like predictable love stories filled with cliches then this movie is not for you. If you don’t like humor and beautiful scenery then this movie is not for you. But most of all, if you can’t laugh at stereotypes about American tourists in Greece then this movie is definitely not for you. I, for one, lov romantic comedies and Nia Vardalos so I was anxious to see Donald Petrie’s movie, My Life in Ruins.

CHARACTERS:

Although Nia is great as Georgia in the movie, I think Richard Dreyfuss steals the show as funnyman “Irv.” He is always making jokes and although not all are funny, that does not stop him from continuing to be entertaining. Irv becomes an almost angel-like guide who helps Georgia move in a better direction. The relationship between the two and their chemistry on-screen carries the movie. Nia says of co-star Richard:

The amazing thing about my life is that I’ve gotten to work with a lot of people I admire. He was charming, funny and a consummate professional. One of my favorite moments was shooting that scene when we’re sitting on the piano bench and I thought, ‘I am having a close encounter with Richard Dreyfuss!’

My absolute favorite character was Dorcas, played by Sheila Bernette, who is this little old lady and you would never expect she would ever steal anything but she is a kleptomaniac. Throughout the movie she gets gifts for the others on the tour with her and they always tell her she shouldn’t have and she says “it was no problem.” Little do they know, it really was free.

PLOT:

The movie is about an American girl who moves to Greece to teach history and ends up being a tour guide. Along the way she has lost her kefi which is the Greek version of her mojo. Her boss, Maria (Bernice Stegers), seems to hate her and gives her the bad bus (with a broken AC system), bad driver (who looks like he hasn’t shaved or cut his hair in years), bad hotel rooms and worst of all, the bad tour group consisting of the loudmouth Americans, the stuffy Brits and their sullen daughter, the alcoholic Australians, a couple of recently divorced and hot-to-trot Spanish ladies, a workaholic IHOP sales rep and a senior citizen couple.

All Georgia wants to do is teach her tour group about the history of the country that she loves so much and all they want to do is go to the beach. Maria tells Georgia, “Nobody comes to Greece to learn.” While going off with her latest tour group, Georgia makes up her mind that she is going to quit because she has had enough of her job and her always ass-kissing co-worker Nico (Alistair McGowan).

Nia Vardalos sells her character. You see just how fed up Georgia is with the way her life is going. After her bonding moment with Irv, where he encourages her to open up, she has a wonderful transformation.

Being a helpless romantic, my favorite storyline was the relationship between Georgia and Poupi (Alexis Georgoulis), the strong, silent Greek bus driver that falls for Georgia Poupi compares being a bus driver to being a composer, “the scenery is the music” he tells Georgia. It takes most of the movie for the two to come together but all most of the story-lines in the movie, you know that it is eventually going to happen.

FAVORITE LINE: (After Georgia tells Irv he is like God since he helps make things happen):

“Georgia, I haven’t made a number two since Chicago. If I was God I would fix that first.”

SETTING:

The movie takes place in Greece. One of the best parts of the movie is the beautiful scenery and all the historical sites that are visited. Visiting Greece is one of the factors that closed director Donald Petrie on the project:

“I read about Olympia and Delphi and the Acropolis and all these different places, but even though I could look on a map, you never know until you get there. So I went to Greece where I fell more deeply in love with the project and Greece.”

In the end, Georgia finds her kefi and decides she doesn’t want to quit after all.

I would give this movie a 3 out of 5. Although it’s predictable it does it’s job as a feel good movie.

Watch the trailer…

ScreenCrave.com » Nia Vardalos

Larry Crowne: Movie Review

The Players:

The Story:

The Good:

The Bad:

Overall:

Rating: 7/10

Gallery:

Trailer:

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