Film Review: Larry Crowne

First off, I feel like I should offer some form of explanation as to why I actually watched Larry Crowne. You don't even need to know me that well to know that I'm not exactly drawn to films with tag lines on the front of the case like 'Find Life and Love', which is the case of this. I'm not one for inspirational messages on my DVD case, thanks.

The reason I wanted to watch it was the fact that Bryan Cranston was in it. After the one-two punch of the sensational Breaking Bad (which may end up being one of the greatest TV shows of all time) and his supporting turn in potential film of the year, Drive. To put it mildly, I wanted more Cranston, in any way, shape or form.

But Cranston aside, I found a film I was mildly surprised by, and found quite enjoyable, and if it wasn't for a few problems, I'd highly recommend it.

Larry Crowne is all about Tom Hanks (a man everyone loves, and if you don't, you have no soul), he stars, directs and co-writes (along with Nia Vardalos, best known for My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and his likability carries the film nicely.

Hanks plays the titular Larry Crowne, a middle aged divorcee who has just lost his job as a team leader at a big superstore, and decides to go back to college, where he falls in with an unlikely gang of students, mostly scooter fans. He also starts to fall in love with on his tutors, the miserable, and very married Mercedes Tainot (Juila Roberts.)

The supporting players almost seem like stunt casting. Dale Dye has a small role as one of the superstore executives letting Larry go, George Takei plays another tutor at the college, Cedric The Entertainer plays Larry's next door neighbour who is a permanent state of yard sale. It's a motley bunch, but they all are quite likable.

The aforementioned Cranston has about 4 scenes, after all that, but has a great role as Mercedes' husband, Dean - a college professor turned internet blogger. Which means he just sits online looking at porn. He's an unbelievable dickhead, and Cranston is brilliant in the role. It's a shame he wasn't in it more.

The comedy is really silly, but I warmed to it for some reason. Some subplots involve George Takei's tutor being annoyed Larry keeps using a phone in class, and the running joke of one of his college buddies being annoyed at the attention his girlfriend shows Larry. It sounds rubbish, but I actually quite enjoyed it.

For all its charm, the side is seriously let down when it gets to character development, though. Mercedes' character jumps from the unhappy wife, bringing her misery to work to all sunshine and rainbows so quickly, you barely have time to blink. And even if that wasn't the case, I just couldn't buy into the romantic side of the plot at all.

I just couldn't see what would attract Larry to Mercedes, all she does was come off as quite unpleasant for the longest while, and a lot of the time, he doesn't even seem to be that interested in her. It's almost as if it was decided that the film better have Hanks and Roberts kissing a bit, seeing that they're in it.

If watching the film, I do advise that it goes off the very moment the credits start rolling, as it involves a horrifically embarrassing sequence, set to green screen. To make a comparison, it reminded me of the music video to David Hasselhoff's version of 'Hooked On A Feeling'. Yeah, that bad.

It's all a game of two halves though. It's undemanding, sweet and mildly amusing where it needs to be, but there's no way you'll buy into the love story aspect.

**1/2
An OK film let down by a lazy romantic subplot, and possibly the worst post credits sequence I have ever seen. Try renting it.