The good news is that Larry Crowne was much more bearable than I thought it would be, mostly because the whole college element was basically just a backdrop for Larry Crowne’s personal journey thingamajigger.
Look, we all know where this is going. It's about execution, not suspense.
Sure, the movie was a little confused about its own quirk level but all things considered it wasn’t a bad way to spend a hundred-degree afternoon. And despite a script co-authored by Nia Vardalos and Tom Hanks, the sentiment level isn’t too hurl-inducing. Except maybe for the last five minutes of the movie, which manage to throw a little “education changes life” schmaltz into the overly neat tie-up. I’d suggest avoiding this stuff altogether by making the movie interactive: just walk out at whatever point you think it should be over.
Frankly, I didn’t give a rat’s ass whether Larry Crowne found himself or succeeded or whatever, and I spaced out whenever the action was on Tom Hanks. But the classroom scenes were pretty darned fun, and outdid my expectations. No delusions of grandeur because it was set at a community college. And even in this feel-good flick, Julia Roberts’ Professor Tainot is overjoyed when under-enrolled classes are cancelled, tries to scare students away on the first day of class, teaches hung over, and throws erasers — all fine pedagogy as far as I’m concerned.
Anyway, I figured the best service I could do was grade this movie from an educational standpoint.
Julia Roberts as Professor Tainot: A-
She wears this expression for most of the movie. I think I like unsmiling Julia Roberts better.
It was a pleasant surprise to see Julia Roberts play bitter for once. They got the functional alcoholism just right, too, and I even found her drunken professorial hijinx surprisingly accurate. Only complaint: her wardrobe. She was stuck in high-class, jewel-toned shirtdresses for most of the movie, but by the end I’m pretty sure she was wearing Diane Von Furstenberg. All awesome to behold, but not within a community college teacher’s budget.
Mess of Students in Prof. Tainot’s Class: A
The movie had a lot of fun with the students. There was Sleepy Guy, Weird Guy, Crazy Enthusiastic Girl, and much texting in class. Realistic and well-acted.
Fun Cameos: A+
If George Takei signs on, you know it can't be all bad.
Going into this movie with low expectations, I was really pleased to see some of my favorite actors popping up. George Takei plays econ prof Dr. Matsutani, who regularly messes with his students’ heads. Rob Riggle shows up briefly to play a college-graduate asshole who waves his SMU class ring at anyone who doesn’t ask. Pam Grier plays Prof. Tainot’s fellow prof, and Cedric the Entertainer play’s Larry’s neighbor. Finally the unestimable Mr. Tainot, who is a total, porn-watching waste of space, is still compelling when played by the gifted Bryan Cranston. Good times.
Side Plot Involving Scooter Gang, Spunky Girl, and Her Pseudo-Badass Latino Boyfriend: B-
She helps him get hip, he helps her with bills. No, that's not sexist or anything.
Personal pet peeve: I do not like non-ironically spunky characters. So while Gugu Mbatha-Raw does a fine job playing Talia, the girl “everyone falls in love with,” I still wanted to smack her. That’s okay, though, because her boyfriend was FEZ! From That 70′s Show! And he’s all growed up now. Look!
So there's supposed to be this tension or something. But really, which one would you pick?
Oh, hey! You made me want to see this movie (although, yes, I will wait for Netflix because I feel about movie theater patrons the way you feel about higher ed.) (You excepted, of course.)
This is also the first intelligent review of this movie that I’ve come across. Ya know, one that wasn’t all about the movie isn’t Hanks/Roberts’ finest hour. Instead, you actually, gasp, reviewed the content. Yowza. So, hey. Thanks for this!
Um, what was their finest hour?? I think teaching gave me an appreciation for the fact that even a B-grade movie is above average, so I’m not nearly as picky as a lot of critics — I mean, so what if something’s not an A+, if I’m looking for entertainment and I get it, I’m happy.
George Takei? Well why didn’t you just say so?
I know, right? I wouldn’t have been so resistant if they’d included him in the trailer. He has major draw!