At last, a film I wanted to see before I even saw the trailer! I have loved Rachel McAdams since I saw her in The Notebook in 2005 and was excited to see Morning Glory just by seeing the poster. Problems started when I discovered I was going to be away during the opening weekend, then had a really bad cold which meant I couldn't go out. The final nail in my cinema going coffin was that no sooner had Morning Glory arrived than it was dropped by my local cinema.
Undefeated I decided to make the short train journey to Worthing and saw the film with my best friend in the delightful Dome Cinema. I'd had the most awful afternoon at work and was in a terrible mood when I arrived, but the cinema is so quaint and welcoming that I instantly felt better the moment I walked into the cozy lobby. My mood was lifted further when I saw that they were selling off movie posters, for the bargainous price of 2 for £2, two of which were for Love and Other Drugs. If you know me or have read my earlier reviews you'll realise how ridiculously happy this made me. Bad mood forgotten, we purchased coffee from the bar and headed up to the screen.
The film opens on ambicious TV producer Becky Fuller (McAdams) who is made redundent from her job on 'Good Morning New Jersey'. The job was her life and so she quickly starts trying to find a new one, sending resumes to any and every television network out there. Eventually she gets a break from IBS Network Executive Jerry (Jeff Goldblum), who hires Becky as the new Executive Producer of their morning show, Daybreak. Becky soon finds her feet in her new job when she fires the show's co-presenter on her first day, earning her a reputation as a no-nonsense boss. In trying to find a replacement co-presenter Becky stumbles across legendary, award winning news reporter Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford), who is already on contract with IBS but who has found a loophole in his contract that means he can get paid for doing nothing at all. Becky, determined to get Mike off his ass and onto her show makes him an official job offer he can't refuse. Literally, as if he does, he loses his salary! Disgruntled and cantakerous, Mike accepts the job on one condition, that he can refuse any story he doesn't want to do. Being a serious reporter on a breakfast television show means that he turns down most of the stories offered to him, leaving long suffering co-host Colleen (the surprisingly hilarious Diane Keaton) to pick up the slack. Somehow, during all of this Becky manages to start a relationship with fellow IBS producer Adam (the charming Patrick Wilson), conjure up innovative ways to increase Daybreak's ratings, saving the show from being cancelled, and land an interview with the prestegious Today Show which is where she has always wanted to work.
I shan't spoil the ending but I will say that Morning Glory was a welcome delight. At first I thought that Mike's grumpiness was a tad too much. Not that Harrison Ford was OTT, just that it made him more unlikeable than he needed to be. I didn't see how he could possibly redeem himself. Like I said, I won't spoil it! I loved Diane Keaton so much in this movie. One of the last films I saw her in, which ironically also starred Ms McAdams, was the awful Family Stone. Which I will never forget, had a review on the back of the box that said it was "very funny". It isn't! However in this, she had me crying with laughter. Amazing the difference a decent script can make!
Engaging and genuinely funny, with believable characters at it's core. I can only hope the DVD cover ends up saying something like that, because it'd be true! 8 out of 10.
Viewing Date - 2nd February 2011
UK Release Date - 21st January 2011
Cast Overview:
Rachel McAdams ~ Becky Fuller
Harrison Ford ~ Mike Pomeroy
Diane Keaton ~ Colleen Peck
Patrick Wilson ~ Adam Bennett
Jeff Goldblum ~ Jerry Barnes
Director ~ Roger Michell
Writer ~ Aline Brosh McKenna
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