If “Up Close and Personal” had a baby with “The Devil Wears Prada,” that offspring would be “Morning Glory.” From the cast to the writing, I adored this romantic comedy.
Sure, it was cookie cutter at times, but it was hilarious and fun for the rest of its running time. The story follows a morning show producer, Becky (Rachel McAdams), after she is fired from one show and gets hired at a different, but not quite as successful, station. Becky is high strung, motivated and idealistic. Her new cast and crew, not so much.
Her two high profile anchors, Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford) and Colleen Peck (Diane Keaton) are, at the very least, a handful. Her boss is threatening to cancel the show because of its ratings, and it all unfolds in a chaotic chipmunk on crack manner. And what would a romantic comedy be without a little romance? Adam Bennett (Patrick Wilson) is the love catalyst in this one, although he never calls Rachel McAdams a bird.
McAdams is charming, witty, adorable and believable — as she tends to be — which is vital in a female lead in this genre. That said, this is truly a collaborative film. Next to McAdams come some fantastic performances and some great chemistry. Harrison Ford gives a deliciously-twisted performance reminiscent of Meryl Streep in “The Devil Wears Prada,” yet he puts a unique spin on it. He had me in stitches several times. Pair that with Diane Keaton’s catty, sarcastic performance, and you have entertainment value. Jeff Goldblum, who portrays the big boss man, also ads some strategically-placed laughs. His hair is often wild, and his voice is exactly as you remember it.
Poking fun at all the early morning news shows, “Morning Glory” has an overall tone to it that is quite familiar and inviting. Is it groundbreaking and revolutionary? No, it’s not, but it is oddly inspiring. Is it raunchy dark humor? Not a wee little bit, but it’s realistic humor, banter if you will, that one might find in their every day life. Should you see this movie? Yes. It is a tad chick flicky and, as I said, cookie cutter in its own right, but it is completely worth seeing. Directed by Roger Michell (“Notting Hill”) and written by Aline Brosh McKenna (“27 Dresses,” “Laws of Attraction” and, you guessed it, “The Devil Wears Prada”), “Morning Glory” is the epitome of romantic comedies.
Rated PG-13 for some sexual content including dialogue, language and brief drug references, “Morning Glory” is almost a family film. On the Jess-O-Meter, this one gets “See it you oughta, if you liked The Devil Wears Prada, and that’s the story, morning glory.”
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Follow Jessika Owens on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jessika.
I do plan on seeing this film cause I love the actors in it & most of the movies the writer is known for. Good job Jess!
i will defenitely watch this movie.