In Larry Crowne, a happy-go-lucky tale of self-discovery, Tom Hanks directs and stars as the title character. He’s a marvel of an employee at the big-box company where he has worked ever since leaving the Navy as a cook. Crowne is the type of worker any boss would dream of having: optimistic, hardworking, and warmhearted. However as the depression takes its toll on the company, Crowne is downsized because of his lack of education.

With a mortgage that is steep and a wife who has left him, Larry must figure out what to do with his life. Instead of sulking in his problems, he enrolls at the local college. Being the likable person he is, Larry makes friends in spades (which instantly grants him into a gang of scooter riders) and develops a crush on his speech teacher, Mrs. Tainot (played by the lovely Julia Roberts).

Tom Hank’s second directorial effort is a harmless affair that will please all audiences. But the film is far too conventional in its storytelling, as it never leaves its predictable, cliched realm. This poses problems as relationships are formed (i.e.: Crowne and Tainot) and personal conflicts within minor characters (i.e.: a younger student who’s befriended Crowne, but is not sure whether to stay in school or drop out and create her own retail store) are uninteresting and derivative to the plot.

Every character in the picture feels like an outline, instead of an establishment. Especially the two leads, Hanks and Roberts, whose sudden romance is unexpected and not entirely believable. We know who to root for, sadly our affirmation is not whole-hearted.

So the story transpires – if you’ve seen the trailer, you know exactly what will happen. There’s no need for me to spell it out for you. Simply put, you get what you pay for.

Tom Hanks plays the leading man here, and he does a nice job. But like Tom Cruise in so many of his films, Hanks can’t get out of being, well, Tom Hanks. Larry Crowne is simply not a believable figure. Sympathetic and endearing, sure. But a man who’s accomplished so much in his life and has obtained such a dedicated working mentality, would never be caught dead working at a Wall-Mart (esque) venue. Again, we suspend disbelief.

Tom Hanks as Larry Crowne chatting with his neighbors in the new middling film, "Larry Crowne"

Julia Roberts is delightful, as always. Like last week’s teacher Cameron Diaz’s Elizabther Halsey (Bad Teacher) Taito is a confused middle-aged woman – with a husband who’s been on a three year hiatus from writing and developed a blog, while staring at porn throughout the day. My question: where do all these attractive teachers come from? They’re practically non-existent in my school. I suppose that’s Hollywood for you.

The bottom line is Larry Crowne is one of the more middle-of-the-line pictures you will see this year. It’s a film that’s kind, has values, and gives the audience lessons on reinvention and how it is never too late to make a change. Larry Crowne, the character, is so open to new ideas, embracing them in most cases (with of course initial skepticism). That’s why it’s a disappointment when Hanks’s direction is formulaic and uninspired. Another note that falls short is the fact that Hanks and Roberts, who shine as spectacles on screen, aren’t given a plot that’s worth their respective talents. It’s a shame.

Larry Crowne has quality ideas, just hardly any of them are implemented or harnessed. While Hanks may be one of the most prolific and beloved actors of the past 20 years, his work behind the camera is lackluster. Enjoyable as it is affectionate, Larry Crowne is a crowd-pleasing affair that suffers from forgettable direction and a script that’s calculated from beginning to end.

Rating:

Larry Crowne (2011)

Cast: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Bryan Cranston

Director: Tom Hanks

Writer: Nia Vardalos, Tom Hanks

Runtime: 99 minutes

Genre: drama, comedy

Trailer Larry Crowne

by CinemaRx