Wordiezett So much average

ReaderKenka Let's be realistic.

ChicRawIdol A brilliant film that helped define a genre

Leoni Haney Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

trevorbeer With the 2 principal actors billed, I thought I was going to love this film. However, it is truly bad. The story line is totally unconvincing and corny. It relates issues covered many times (and much better) in numerous other films. The only good points are that there are some reasonable performances by Roberts and Hanks, but these fall way short of the marvelous kind of stuff we see in Castaway, Capt Philips, Pretty Woman, Notting Hill etc. Roberts performance hinted at "Bad Teacher" at times, but never really got close.I'm glad I only bought a 2nd hand dvd dics for a few dollars. Even so, I feel somewhat cheated!

The Movie Diorama Tom Hanks is Hollywood's nice guy, so he imitates his own personable qualities into the titular character. Which raises the fundamental question: Is he actually acting? Fortunately his talents are utilised offscreen also as he co-writes and directs this romantic comedy. Crowne has recently lost his job due to downsizing, with limited qualifications he returns to college to obtain a higher education whilst simultaneously reinventing himself. It's a feel good Sunday afternoon flick, nothing more. Reminiscent of 80s Hanks comedies such as 'Big', his dorky personality is presented through expressive behaviour. Y'know...shirt tucked in, running late to class and making a big deal out of it, clumsy...just a typical buffoon that Hanks was known for playing. A sweet romance blossoms between Hanks and Roberts who immediately establish easy onscreen chemistry. You buy into these characters with a gleeful smile on your face. The narrative was paced impeccably considering the basic plot, didn't look at my watch once! Hanks' directing style was functional, nothing grandiose or spectacular but he gets the job done without incurring any noticeable issues. It's just a shame that the whole film felt bland, lazy and uninspired. You can look at the front cover and predict exactly what happens, it is that basic. The script attempts to inject humour but comes across as cringe worthy, kind of like a joke your grandma would say. "Oh Luke, I once baked a batch of cookies with arsenic instead of milk...I'm such a silly lamb!". Not to mention the forced reinvention of his character. We get it, he is a middle aged man conforming to teenage styles and trends, it wasn't funny the first time it certainly isn't humorous for a whole film. If this was released two decades ago then I suspect it would've been decent. however, much like Crowne himself, it just can't keep up with current trends. A nice unmemorable bland watch that should've been electrifying given the talent on and off screen. I still to this day cannot grasp the concept of Feng Shui...

J Bur I don't understand the low star count (6.1 as of this review). This is a good movie with a good story, good acting, nice people, and what should have been a breakthrough performance for Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Talia, who lit up the screen with her charisma and effervescent smile. (Maybe it was. She's been busy since this movie.) Tom Hanks, Wilmer Valderrama, Bryan Cranston, Rita Wilson, and Julia Roberts are all excellent too. If you want murder, explosions, criminals, and cruelty look elsewhere. If you want a pleasant, fun, enjoyable movie with likable characters with redeeming qualities with whom you can identify and for whom you can root, this is it.

studioAT After the success of 'That Thing You Do' you can see why Tom Hanks was keen to give the acting/writing/directing in a project another go.Sadly Larry Crowne is not a good film. The premise is good, and certainly topical but it's let down by a paper thin plot and weak characterisation.Tom Hanks to his credit does his normal everyman trick very well and his relationship with Julia Roberts character is strong,but everything else...oh dear. Even the appearance of Cedric The Entertainer doesn't add much to a film that plods along despite it's relatively short running time.The sad thing is that this film had potential, but sadly the female characters are so 2D that we never really feel for them. And in a romcom if we don't root for both parties the game is really up.