Morning Glory

All-round stellar cast: Rachael McAdams, Diane Keaton, Harrison Ford, as well as Jeff Goldblum, Patrick Wilson & really fun to see onscreen again, John Pankow ("cousin Ira" on the 80s Helen Hunt/Paul Reiser hit comedy TV show "Mad About You".Rachel McAdams is adorable & delightful in one of her cheekiest roles as the spirited & unsinkably optimistic Becky who has recently been let go due to budget cuts as Producer of a bare-bones A.M. Entertainment News program in New Jersey, which was her "stepping stone" to the major networks in New York City. This does not deter Becky who, in no time at all has an interview with a lesser-known, New York City A.M. Entertainment News Program. Jeff Goldblum plays the stressed-out Station Manager with a heart of gold; an executive struggling with a low budget, dispirited staff and a deadline to get things turned around quickly. Enter Becky with her winsome, plucky tenacity and incandescent, irresistible smile & she's hired as well as determined to succeed!!! Almost immediately she fires the Co-Anchor who is leeching any of the life out of the rest of the cast members & staff on the show. Now, all she needs do is fill the spot..and quickly! Diane Keaton is the competent former beauty queen remaining Co-Anchor, who has put in her time & doesn't foresee anything changing (as does the rest of the cast & crew), since they've all seen lesser Producers come & go. However, in her first move, Becky already has them all clapping & having feelings they haven't in a long time...hope!Beckly is not only plucky, cheeky, cute & winsome, but also smart & impassioned! She finds that already on staff is a cantankerous curmudgeon of a former investigative news reporter who is waiting out time on his contract until he can leave, no longer being on any news program, played with excellent disdain by Harrison Ford, who reluctantly is pretty much forced into becoming Diane Keaton's Co-Anchor, which doesn't sit well with either of them...cue non-stop laughter! He pretty much refuses to go along with doing "entertainment" & persists in solely reading the news reports, until Diane Keaton finally erupts at him...on air!! At which point, viewership starts to increase & as that occurs, Becky becomes more & more creative with the show & is able to book better & more entertaining segments.While Becky is succeeding in bringing ratings up, she's also creating an atmosphere of "family" among this "motley crew" of a staff, and trying to find some type of balance between career & a burgeoning love interest, played with handsome charm by Patrick Wilson. There is still the Harrison Ford Co-Anchor issue which Becky struggles with during private conversations with him, following Harrison Ford around & interrupting his private time, to try to get him onboard with the show, eventually endearing herself to him, too. It still doesn't turn him around, until he learns that Becky is being courted by "Good Morning America" & let's just say this culminates with a very cute, charming scene while Becky is involved in an interview with said morning news show, which will have you clapping!!A disarming, exhilarating comedy that will leave you smiling an infectious Becky-smile! from beginning to end!!!!

YEARS ago, I myself worked for 6 years in live broadcast news (financial news) in what began as a very small studio in Santa Monica and later in Culver City, Los Angeles...so this movie really spoke to me. It was a hell of a lot of fun to watch. Reminded me a lot of my old live-broadcast days. I really enjoyed the snarky interplay between Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton. They're two veteran actors with a lot of talent and very entertaining. I really lost it, laughing hard... watching what the producers put that poor weather-guy thru! LOL - there was a young woman on our local news channel who used to do all those kinds of stories - she'd go on thrill rides, she'd go face exotic creatures at the zoo or county fair, she even went up in one of those jet fighter planes that zoom straight up into the sky, and they shot it all LIVE while she was doing it. It was hilarious! And altho' I understood that Rachel McAdams and Patrick Wilson's characters (Becky & Adam) were supposed to be the stars of this romantic comedy... I saw for the most part that Becky was in a relationship with her JOB and everything else was secondary to that.(personally I don't find a problem with that - So now women can be just as completely obsessed with their jobs or careers as men have always been?? so what?? and yet, many of them still managed to find supportive mates who had their own career paths and/or personal lives but could still make the relationship work) I know in the end Becky found a way to not let work take over her whole life so she could actually give some of herself to Adam... but I didn't find that as satisfactory. I agree that everyone has to find a happy medium between work and their relationships. Its a delicate balance, requiring TONS of compromise and patience & understanding from both partners. And some people are more able or willing to compromise than others. (I think those are the people who are the most happy in the end) It was also an interesting POV that she chose the "family" at IBC over the impersonal (but more highly paid and more demanding) job at the Today Show. (is it "the devil you know..." kinda choice? LOL) I myself had that very decision once, when the little station I worked at for 6 years finally got noticed and bought out by CNBC & they moved everything (but NOT everyONE) back east to New Jersey. I chose to stay in L.A. But I always wondered what would've happened if I had moved with the network. Ah well... who knows? I really REALLY enjoyed this movie a lot, for many personal reasons. I am also going to get my husband to watch it too - he also worked for quite a few years in two different local TV stations, so I know he'll love the reminders of those days too.

Rating: 3 Thumbs' Up[Rating Scale:0 Thumbs' Up: You just wasted your money, and lost 90 minutes of your life that you'll never get back.1 Thumb's Up: It's worth seeing, but when you consider the cost of the popcorn and soda on top of a movie ticket, you're in the hole.2 Thumbs' Up: Worth seeing twice, especially if you can see it for $5.95 on COMCAST or your local cable affiliate.3 Thumbs' Up: See at least three times, maybe more. From a purely economic standpoint, you might as well buy it and add it to your collection.]SUMMING IT UP: Surprising performances all around. Rachel McAdams delivers a strong performance containing a nice range of emotion coupled with great comedic timing and presence. Harrison Ford is the crusty old journalist at the end of the line who nobody wants any more. Even Diane Keaton delivers a very nice supporting role. And when you couple in Jeff Goldblum as the taciturn semi-belligerent boss, it's a great cast. Moreover, the script lives up to the acting team. Don't set your sights too high, this isn't an Oscar-winning movie, but it's a very good and solid B+ level movie that warrants your viewing ... and purchase, if you agree with my rating.WHY I LIKED IT: it appeals to my type-A self, and delivers a very palatable cautionary tale about people who define themselves by their careers. Yet it also has the components of "winning against the odds", "triumph after failure", "compassion for others", and good-old "redemption". A good Date Movie.