We've all suspected for quite some time now
that the charming, cheeky Harrison Ford that we knew and loved from Indiana Jones and Star Wars was dead
- but now, it's all but official judging by his latest grumpy-man turn
in the fun, if not slightly disposable, Morning Glory.
Director
Roger Michell ventures into the depths of the chipper, false smile
world of Morning TV (you know the drill : Kochie, Kerri Anne,
Heeeeeere's Moira) with this new romantic comedy starring the unfairly
cute Rachel
McAdams, the aforementioned Harrison Ford and the always eccentric
Diane Keaton.
The flick kicks off when hard working TV producer Becky Fuller
(McAdams) is fired from a dodgy local news program, and her career
begins to look
as bleak as her non-existent love life.
However
it isn't long until she stumbles into a job at "Daybreak" (not before a
fairly harsh "Get A Real Job" pebble of wisdom is delivered by her
mum) where her sole job is to revitalise the ailing program
show
by bringing on legendary, serious journalist TV anchor Mike Pomeroy
(Ford).
Imagine if Kerry O'Brien was roped in to doing The Morning Show
and throwing to infomercials for The
Flava Wave. You get the drift... it doesn't turn out
pretty.
Without
delay, Pomeroy refuses to cover morning show staples
like celebrity gossip, weather, fashion and crafts – and is even more
difficult when it comes to his new co-host, Colleen Peck (Keaton).
Cue
frazzled looks, a blossoming love affair between Becky and a fellow
producer and the eventual change of heart from the stone cold reporter.
While Morning Glory
hardly must-see viewing it is a fairly fun and accurate portrayal of
life inside the inner sanctum of TV, where ideas go to die and
celebrity and ego rule.
What saves Morning Glory
from being a completely throw-away-made-for-TV-movie is Rachael
McAdams. She shines in a role which, in the wrong hands (those hands
being Katherine Heigl, and believe me - it's EXACTLY the kind of
character Heigl plays in each and every movie), should be completely
unlikeable.
Yet, McAdams delivers her performance with such spark and vulnerable
strength. She is truly adorable.
Ultimately Morning Glory
works well, but sadly is never funny, romantic or insightful enough to
ever really satisfy.
DVD Special Features
Morning Glory
was hardly a Box Office smash (a healthy $60M worldwide from a $40M
budget) - nor the type of film that really calls for much by the way of
extras.
So it's no surprise that all that's on offer here is a Commentary by
Director Roger Michell and Writer Aline Brosh McKenna and a HD Deleted
Scene if you opt for the Blu Ray version.
This may be the type of movie that calls for a viewing on cable or via
legal download.
