MOVIE REVIEW - Larry Crowne

Been a while, but Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts are back on the screen in the new, Larry Crowne.

LC is a romantic comedy of sorts that deals with a very relevant story line in these recessionary time. Crowne (Hanks) is a 50 ish guy, retired 20 years in the Navy. He was been working at U-Mart for a number of years, and is divorced. He is then downsized from U-Mart because he never went to college. Finding himself out of work, in debt and with no real positive prospects ahead of him, he decides to go to community college.

There he meets Mercy (Roberts). She is a the sexy, unhappily married college professor, who unknowingly is looking for something better in her life than her ADD students, her Internet porn watching, out of work husband, and her recreational drinking. She meets Larry who takes her speech class. And both people seem to be set on a new direction in life. Will they end up together? That's Larry Crowne.

To say LC is a bad movie is too harsh. To say it is a big opportunity missed is more kind and a bit more apt. This movie should have been way better than it is. Having the guts to take on a relevant story, and telling it in a mature way, with two big stars is a great idea. Problem here is story. LC is real light on actual story, and disjoints its way through. LC never really gets on a roll and stays there. The principals somehow find each, somehow get together and that's it. Sadly, there is no palpable chemistry between Larry and Mercy. And that's the opportunity that goes by the by.

What Larry Crowne has is Hanks, and Roberts, and not much else. This script stunningly was written by Hanks, and Nia Vardalos (writer of Big Fat Greek Wedding). And this was directed by Hanks. No doubt it is fun to see Hanks back on the screen in a comedy, and Roberts too. But you have to tell a story that makes sense and is compelling. The idea of LC is highly compelling, the actual movie will hit and miss.

There is not enough of Hanks being the real star he is. And Roberts is misused, but it's not all her fault. Her character is dark, and thinly written, and not asked to do much. As lovely and talented as Julia is, they do ask her to be physically funny in a scene or two here, and it falls short. Scenes designed for big laughs didn't really get them. As far as Hanks is concerned, tough to be in it, writing it, and directing it. Might have been spread a bit too thin.

Overall, Larry Crowne will go over big with box office success, not so sure all will feel as elated after the flick as they will going in. Adults need movies to go to, that are not animated, or computer generated, and that speaks to them. This one can and does to a degree.

Larry Crowne. Many will feel not as good as it really should have been.