MOVIE REVIEW - Morning Glory

The lovely Rachel McAdams stars in the new comedy Morning Glory, new at the box office this week.

MG also stars Harrison Ford, and Diane Keaton in this movie about early morning network TV, and all that goes with it. MG isn't a romantic comedy, and it's not a true comedy, truth is this movie is tough to label other than the fact that there are some funny moments.

Meet Becky (McAdams). She is a young naive TV producer in New Jersey. She is totally married to her work. She ends up losing her job due to budget cuts, and ends up as the Executive Producer at the fictional IBS (interesting letter choice) Network in New York City. She takes over a show called Daybreak which is terrible both on the air, and in the ratings. Her job is to revive this show, before it gets cancelled. Keaton is Colleen, who has been with the show forever. Ford is Mr. Pomeroy, an aging former news giant, who has this aversion to morning television. Somehow Becky has to make it all work out.

MG does a few things very well. It establishes a wonderful Becky, who is fun, and funny, ADD, smart, aggressive and generally likeable. Her chemistry with the two ego giants on her show is really funny. MG takes no prisoners in the lampooning of TV anchors, and makes them out to be raging ego manics. And that is funny as well. It also takes you behind the scenes of network TV as best it can, and shows you the really tough business that it is. There are some very funny scenes here, and some out loud laughs. But sadly, not enough of them.

McAdams is fun again, but I am still of the belief that she is a better second banana than leading lady. Keaton is typically good. Ford as Pomeroy is very glum and dark, and even though it's part of the shtick, it does get old quickly, and you may find yourself ready for the story to move on. And it finally does, begrudgingly. This movie lags badly in it's middle, but rebounds for a decent finish without being silly. There's enough silliness already here. Also, a bad decision for some kind of love story with Becky and a coworker really doesn't work. Plus, it actually makes you question is Becky really as smart as the movie is trying so hard to convince you that she is. That side plot is awkward, and doesn't make this a better movie, just a more formula one.

Nice supporting cast throughout including Jeff Goldblum, and others. MG has a nice soundtrack skillfully woven in the mix, and a story that although isn't great, is good enough to pull it through. The real problem with MG, is that it will be forgettable. Never a good thing at the movies.

Morning glory, for today, OK, for next year at this time? What movie was that???