Movie: The ReWrite
In which Hugh Grant plays himself but that much is a guarantee. But for once, wouldn’t it be great if he plays someone who doesn’t sleep with a young lady less than half his now quite obvious age, isn’t single because no-one will have him and isn’t wealthy?So now that I’ve given away the opening plot although technically, he is heading to being not quite so wealthy. Mr Huge Grant plays an Oscar-winning script writer (British - obvs) known for that one film and is now struggling to get work. His agent finds him a tutoring role at a well–respected university a million miles from LA. Well, in upstate New York which in itself, if you’re not aware, is a million miles away from Manhattan (and in my mind, lovelier with it).So of course he picks the students that have applied for his class by their looks rather than reading their film scripts, throwing in a couple of not-too-cute guys to make it less obvious (to him, rather than everyone else).Terribly under used, Marisa Tomei plays the mature student, single parent and working two jobs to survive and yet is remarkably chilled out. The brilliant Allison Janney is for once not type cast as the quirky neighbour or best friend but plays the prim and proper Jane Austin expert lecturer. I do love the senior lecturer character who just melts each time he talks about his family despite bemoaning the fact that he lives with his wife and four daughters.Three reasons why I went to see this film holding very low expectations:
- Marisa Tomei (love in everything)
- Allison Janney (love in everything and now not typecast as ‘quirky’ – thank goodness)
- After a super-charged week, I didn’t fancy one of the many thrillers that are out and this was on at the right time for me
There were about 7 of us in the cinema – I bumped into two people I knew who had higher expectations that would have wanted their money back if they weren’t Cineworld card holders. If I didn’t have the card, there’s no way I would have passed my hard-earned cash over the counter to see this.A good idea for a story with a great cast easily ruined by the clichés. Try harder though people!6/10Smile factor 7/10