Movie with Abe: Larry Crowne

Larry Crowne
Directed by Tom Hanks
Released July 1, 2011

Certain films are made particularly for a certain crowd. Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts were big, bankable stars in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s. They both typically played strong, likeable heroes in a range of films, from the purely fun – like “Big” and “My Best Friend’s Wedding” – to more challenging and award-winning – like “Cast Away” and “Erin Brockovich.” Neither has experienced nearly as much success in the twenty-first century, and their previous collaboration, Mike Nichols’ “Charlie Wilson’s War,” wasn’t all that superb. Now they’re back in a film tailor-made for their fans that is sure to please some and do nothing for others.

This is a film written and directed by Hanks, only his second time in either of those roles, following his 1996 debut, “That Thing You Do!” Hanks teams up on the script this time with Nia Vardalos, the architect behind the 2002 independent smash “My Big Fat Greek Wedding. A familiarity with Hanks’ typical lighter work and Vardalos’ signature film paints an accurate portrait of what “Larry Crowne” is, a comedy assembled just for audiences who love the usual roles held by Hanks, as a happy-go-lucky everyman, and Roberts, as a moody, sarcastic, independent woman.

What that means for moviegoers in general is a broad, predictable film that follows Larry Crowne (Hanks) as he bounces back from being laid off from his job and reinvents himself by enrolling in community college. Hanks plays doofy and doe-eyed well, and Roberts goes head-to-head with him as his eyeroll-prone public speaking professor Mercedes Tainot. Both play their roles well, but it’s not much of a stretch for either of them. The true entertainment comes from the supporting cast that embodies Crowne’s classmates, led by promising actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw of the recently cancelled “Undercovers” and also including Malcolm Barrett, Rami Malek, Grace Gummer, and Wilder Valderrama.

The construction of “Larry Crowne” is not highly original, and it’s hardly a classic in the making. A number of Ms. Tainot’s thoughts are allowed to be expressed out loud to no one in particular, lending an air of inconsistency to the film as her spoken stream of consciousness breaks the narrative. The presence of a scooter gang that employs snapping and reorganizing as methods of initiation demonstrates how scattered and random this film often feels. It should definitely appeal to those seeking a bit of light fun with these two beloved actors, but anyone looking for an actual great film should look elsewhere.

B-

Tuesday’s Top Trailer: Larry Crowne

Welcome to a weekly feature here at Movies with Abe, Tuesday's Top Trailer. One of my favorite parts about going to see movies is the series of trailers that airs beforehand and, more often than not, the trailer is far better than the actual film. Each week, I'll be sharing a trailer I've recently seen. Please chime in with comments on what you think of the trailer and how you think the movie is going to be.

Larry Crowne – Opening July 1, 2011



There’s plenty to say about this film. The notion of having Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts on screen together is a terrific one, despite the peculiar nature of their last collaboration, “Charlie Wilson’s War.” The importance difference is that here, they’re both back to playing their typical roles that made them both so famous and bankable in the 1990s. Hanks is the boyish, innocent, kind-hearted romantic lead, and Roberts is the prickly, sarcastic, ultimately sentimental crush over whom men can’t hope not to obsess. This is the second feature film directed by Hanks, following 1996’s “That Thing You Do!” (which I haven’t seen). This really does feel, in all its elements, like a return to the 1990s, when these two were big and movies, at least in retrospect, were simpler. This may well be a worthy successor of “Sleepless in Seattle” or “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” with a less obvious romantic setup. At worst, however, this should be harmless fun showcasing entertaining performances from two actors who each haven’t made a great film in a number of years. Playing against type works sometimes, but the most refreshing thing can also be a return to what works best. Also penned by “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” architect Nia Vardalos, this comedy may just be the biggest hit these two Oscar winners have had in years.