New York City has been used almost like a veteran character actor playing a wide variety of roles in different motion pictures. In many films it’s a menacing maze of mean streets as in DEATH WISH, TAXI DRIVER, and of course MEAN STREETS. In other films it’s a beaming mecca to young working girls with big ambitions like,uh, WORKING GIRL and the new comedy produced by J.J. Abrams, MORNING GLORY (not a remake of Katherine Hepburn’s first Oscar winner). Director Roger Michell gives the Big Apple a shiny polish for this workplace romantic comedy.
MORNING GLORY is the story of Becky (Rachel McAdams) the plucky twenty-something producer of an early (very,very early) morning New Jersey TV news show. When budget cuts at the station send her packing Becky embarks on a quest to continue her TV career. She lands a new gig in NYC working on the IBS network’s struggling morning chat and news show, Daybreak. Soon after meeting the show’s veteran diva co-host Colleen Peck (Diane Keaton) Becky fires the male co-host(a great cameo from one of TV’s great new sitcom stars-I won’t spoil it) and searches for his replacement. She soon learns thru her boss, news division producer Jerry Barnes (Jeff Goldblum) that recently ousted evening news anchor Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford) is still under contract to the network. Mike reluctantly joins the show, but is adamant that he will only do new stories and he will not be a part of the fluff (he won’t even say that word on air). Becky begins a romantic relationship with a sympathetic news magazine segment producer Adam (Patrick Wilson) while Colleen and Mike clash and soon they’re given six weeks to turn the ratings around or face cancellation.
The somewhat predictable plot gets a good workout from a very energetic talented cast. The always delightful McAdams starts with a manic energy that is almost exhausting at first, but soon eases into the frantic proceedings and becomes endearing. We just know that Becky who’s part Mary Richards part Ann Marie will overcome all odds. After playing shady characters, Wilson makes a great understanding boyfriend. Kudos for casting an old TV fave John Pankow (Mad About You’s cousin Ira) as Becky’s producing partner Lenny. Goldblum uses his laid back delivery to great effect in a job interview scene similar to Mary’s first meeting with Mr. Grant at WJM. Keaton is very funny and fearless as Colleen, but the character as written is not much more than a over-the-hill diva. The real treat in this film is watching Harrison Ford in a rare comic performance. On the air he gives off an air of aggravation while backstage delivers stinging one-liners as if he were cracking Indy’s old bullwhip. It’s heartwarming to see him embrace McAdams as a surrogate daughter (Pomeroy’s a grandpa’!). Although there’s no any big surprises you’ll enjoy spending some time with these actors. It’s just great to see a mainstream romantic comedy that doesn’t insult your intelligence. And in the wee small hours of the morning that Big Apple looks mighty sweet.
