Larry Crowne (2011)

Should be called the Awakening of Larry Crowne.When i got made redundant i was 48 years old been working for several years as an engineer buyer. I decided to go back to college in the UK, and I actually learnt all about Microsoft to a high level, and became a teacher in further education as I passed all my exams for that. So this movie and me had something in common. Larry looses his job, and goes back to college. Sounds exciting NOT which is a shame as there is so much more about this movie. Friendship made, love, awakening, being part of a team, pushing oneself, and not being scared to try new things. This film had a brilliant cast not only Tom Hanks, and Julia Roberts, but Grace Gummer, Dean Tainot, George Takai , Taraji P. Henson, and others. Directed by Tom Hanks who did a great job. I LOVED IT. It hooked me from the beginning to the end, i wanted more. A gentle love story, with comedy, a good story line and nicely paced and so good not to be exposed to raunchy sex scenes which seem to be the norm now as though people have to watch constant sex scenes to enjoy a movie. WRONG there are still a lot of us, who just want to enjoy a little romance that leaves us feeling good. The 98 minutes flew by, and i will certainly put this one on my repeat list. If you just want to enjoy good actors in a light comedy romance then you cant go wrong with this. Try it, you wont be disappointed.

I adore this movie. While the Hanks' character is lovable (as many of his characters are ) there are plenty of interesting, vibrant characters in the mix. From the eccentric neighbor who runs a full time yard sale in his front yard-- to the free loving scooter chick that embraces Larry and shows him beautifully simple options to his current lifestyle. I think this movie shows how when life throws some unexpected horrible turns at you, what matters is how you handle the changes. Larry did not fight change, he opened himself up to change as a good thing and rolled with it. He did not fight for his job, he did not fight for his home. In the end, HE was better....HIS LIFE was better.

Larry Crowne is Tom Hank's second film as a director. It's a feel good film with a big heart from its lead man. Financial cuts force Larry (Hanks) into losing his job. This hot topic is brushed aside as Larry stays positive by attending college. He meets some weird and wonderful people, including a young, free spirit who changes everything in Larry's life; his hair style, his fashion sense, even the layout of his living room. Larry's on a journey to reinvent himself. He gets a new job, stays focused in college and has a thing for the teacher (Julia Roberts). Julia Robert's relationship with her husband is nearing its end and never quite fits in with the rest of the film. Ultimately not much happens. The movie never escalates, only simmers. If it weren't for Hanks and Robert's ability to act out greatness from a weak script, Larry Crowne would be worse off. By the time it hits its happy, sure-fire ending all involved will be wondering what Larry Crowne's point was.

After the success of 'That Thing You Do' you can see why Tom Hanks was keen to give the acting/writing/directing in a project another go.Sadly Larry Crowne is not a good film. The premise is good, and certainly topical but it's let down by a paper thin plot and weak characterisation.Tom Hanks to his credit does his normal everyman trick very well and his relationship with Julia Roberts character is strong,but everything else...oh dear. Even the appearance of Cedric The Entertainer doesn't add much to a film that plods along despite it's relatively short running time.The sad thing is that this film had potential, but sadly the female characters are so 2D that we never really feel for them. And in a romcom if we don't root for both parties the game is really up.