(2012-05-01 19:58:14)

Completely inoffensive and totally family friendly

"Larry Crowne" was made under the most congenial of circumstances. The film seems to exist because Tom Hanks (star, director, co-writer) wanted to make a film with all his friends. This sense of amiability transcends to the screen making "Larry Crowne" one of the most effortlessly fluffy and charming romantic comedies in a long while. Unfortunately, the basic premise of the film, a man who is forced to redefine himself late in life due to job cutbacks, is *so* timely that the endless cheese-ball attitude nearly kills any sociological resonance. But do know that the film is so harmless, so light on it's feet, so family friendly that you can literally take anyone you know to go see it. Should we expect more edge from Hanks? Sure. But like I said, he's just in this for the fun and so should you. Julia Roberts is the real star of this film though, stealing every single scene with her sassy and lightly misanthropic attitude. "Larry Crowne" is far from being a bad film, but it is a disappointingly light one. Still, it works in it's favor because general audiences can do so much worse. If you are looking to watch something with your whole family and not feel insulted in any way, "Larry Crowne" is your ticket.

(2012-05-01 12:53:49)

HANKS COULD DO BETTER

The movie is unbelievable and I don't mean that in a good way. Hanks has worked 20 years at the U-Mart (Movie version of Walmart). He has been employee of the month 8 times and is a hard worker. Now he is being let go because he has no degree and won't be able to advance. Now in some professions I could see that happening, but for a guy who stocks shelves and pushes shopping carts? He also lives in a half million dollar home which is now worth less than the $392,000 he owes on it. (Where are those Walmart applications!) I understand they needed to get him into the school environment, but they could have written a real scenario and one that was funny and tied into the rest of the movie. Tom Hanks downsizes his life and goes back to school. His Speech 217 teacher is a slightly unkempt, bored with life, Julia Roberts. She is equally bored in her marriage to a writer who spends most of his time watching porn on the Internet. (I can't believe there is porn on the Internet!) They split over an unlikely fight. His economics class is taught by a narcissistic Mr. Sulu. His class mates consists of a number of colorful and quirky characters that make the movie more interesting than Mr. Hanks walking around with his polo shirt tucked in. He joins a bike/scooter gang whose initiation requirement is to able to snap your fingers in unison. Larry (known as Lance Corona to his female lead biker group) takes a job as a cook (a job he did in the Navy) at a diner. All the women seem to dig Larry, a middle aged man with a pouch. Some more of Hanks fantasy writing. It is an easy to watch, feel good movie for bad economic times. Not much action or comedy. Drama is a bit weak too. A movie your kids could watch except for Julia Roberts dropping the F-bomb. Tom Hanks needs to stay in front of the camera and not behind it. 5 stars for Hanks as an actor. 2 stars for his writing and direction. F-bomb, no sex, no nudity. Awkward drunken screen kiss.

webaholicsweet

(2012-05-01 00:24:52)

Love it

i feel so in the mirror with this movie, sometimes need things happento move because you will be always in U-mark, Larry Crown representsfor me the real life your only plan is pay to the bank and no time nospace to make others plans.. Julia Roberts represents for me the reallife situation in middle age womens and many choose skip the guy manyother choose keep the guy. And she teaches how face the world withwords. Talia: represents for me the girl don't see her self living likeLarry Crown life before he goes to the school.. younger don't leave theschool. Economics teacher: All need economics in every day life learnthat. May be you learn how finish your situation with the bank... manymany things more but overall you can restart your life. Do it!.

(2012-04-30 11:54:45)

Primarily a comedy with light mid-life romance

Larry Crowne `with an E' (Tom Hanks) is dropped from employment at UMart even with his stellar record including 8 employee-of-the-months. He's at midlife, 20 year Navy vet, but has to college degree. No future at UMart. Out!Wilma (Rita Wilson, Hank's real wife) from the bank loan desk suggests life changes due to finances. College classes are the obvious answer and Larry enrolls into a Speech 217 class with Ms Mercades `Mercy' Teinot (Julia Roberts) his teacher. "'Tai-no' not `Tai-NO'" instructs the sour teacher a bit grumpy from living with a porn fanatic. Don't expect a sudden romance on this scene.An unexpected flirtatious delight is student Talia (Gugu Mbatha-Raw -also HOT in `Bonekickers') who takes Larry under her wing and gets him involved in a scooter gang. This takes form of some Gump-like events. The speech class is quite a mix of 9 other quirky characters including Natalie (Grace Gummer, Meryl Streep's daughter-you can't miss that face).Mercy is called "washboard" by her boob-loving spouse, soon to be discarded. Later viewed in a low-cut dress, Mercy proves she's not flat--she's a Pretty Woman. That leaves a romance available, right? Not so fast.If you were expecting lots of bed scenes, skin, and raucous behavior, you will be disappointed. This will not be a 5-star movie for the under-40s. Older adults, mid-life through Boomers like a romance that has some intellect mixed with emotion, and from that perspective, this romantic comedy works. After all the economy has everyone relating to job loss, low income, loosing a home, reentry into a new job, and here we have a fun, but truthful picture of that struggle in life.Theatre ticket price plus gas and popcorn, may be a bit costly, but the value comes in the DVD version when it's available. And of course quite fun for Hanks and Roberts fans. While waiting try a reminisctic romp through Mystic Pizza (1988), best viewed in a hotel room in Mystic, Connecticut--love that Roberts.

(2012-04-30 06:59:54)

great cast, little story

There is a curious lack of drama in this movie despite the stellar cast. Larry Crowne: Tom Hanks could pull off being poor and dumb in "Forrest Gump" but these many years later, maybe it's just me, but it's harder to imagine him as an former Navy guy working in Kmart type place for 20 years . Julia Roberts does a better job as a burned out, more talented teacher teaching (often) less motivated community college kids. Somewhat sarcastic, pretty, great legs but a more believable role. Wilmer Valderamma (FES for The 70's Show) does little more than glare and try to look menacing. Bryan Cranston as her husband looking at porn. George Takei from Star Trek (whose voice is synthesized for gay skeleton robot Geoff Peterson on Craig Ferguson's Late Late Show) has a dry comic part as an imperious Econ professor - one of the better things in the movie.It's a feel good movie for our times, Bad economy, a guy picks himself up by his bootstraps and makes things better in his life going to college. A good message. But there is a curious lack of dramatic tension and conflict. After losing his job, everything seems to just go his way, he buddies up with youngsters, teachers, neighbors. I won't give more away. I just expected there would be more story. More substance... Screenplay by Tom Hanks, and Nia Vardalos... Not much screenplay there.

jamiemarks-1

(2012-04-29 23:25:47)

A light enjoyable rom-com, but problems with pacing and not enough romance let's it down slightly.

Tom Hanks one of my most favourite actors in the world and JuliaRoberts a terrific actress who I have always quite like starring in aromantic comedy together, particularly with Hanks writing the scriptand directing it, I felt it was sure to be a winner as the trailer wasgreat. But I was a little bit disappointed though I still highlyenjoyed the film. Larry Crowne hasn't performed all that well at the box office, but tomy mind (though I know it won't be to everyone's) it isn't because thisis a bad film. But rather Hanks has unwisely chose to release this atcompletely the wrong time. With it coming out the same week as thethird Transformers and Harry Potter coming out two weeks later, thatbeing today, most people both kids and adults will be flocking to seethese movies as they are much bigger money earners as they aregenerally much more popular due to books (for HP) and toys/TV series(Transformers). Hanks should have released this at least a monthearlier than Transformers or a month after Harry Potter as I believe itwould have made a bigger impact at the box office.Anyway I treated my father to see this as we follow the character ofLarry Crowne (Tom Hanks) a nice middle-aged man who working for acompany after having been in the Navy is let go of because he didn't goto college, so struggling throughout with paying his rent and such dueto the poor economy he goes back to college to reinvent himself wherehe joins a class consisting of nine students and the teacher teachingthem Mercedes Tainot (Julia Roberts). Throughout we Mercedes strugglewith her life in doing her job and being stuck in a bad marriage withher husband who does nothing all day but look at pornography. Meanwhileshe and Larry start warming to each other, though there chemistrydosen't really blossom until the last twenty minutes of the film. A sub-story involves Larry becoming friends with one of the studentsfrom his economics class who coaxes him into joining a bike gang. Thisis an enjoyable film with a witty script at times and some good laughs,this going to a large part from a background character of the Economicsprofessor Dr. Matsutani (excellently acted by George Takei who playedSulu in the original Star Trek series in the 1960s). All the charactersare likable even though Mercedes does complain often, she has such abad marriage so you can't blame her. And as I said Roberts and Hankshave some nice romantic chemistry towards the end as you see them (andthe other students change as people) and the two main leads make a cutecouple. But Hanks direction of the film is really just too slow thoughit keeps you engaged from the start to end. There is not enough romancebetween Mercedes and Larry until near the end so their romance whilenice dosen't make that big an impact and you don't really emotionallyconnect with them or absolutely root for them to be together. And alsothough funny there weren't enough laugh out loud moments, only mostlychuckles.All the same this was a very decent effort by Hanks and it's harmlesslight entertainment that should entertain for it's length and leave youwith a smile on your face.

dhealey12

(2012-04-29 10:49:25)

Hanks Should Write What He Knows

Right from the outset, with Hanks being fired at work while histerminators make stupid jokes, it is clear that writer Tom Hanks hasnot spent much time in the real world. Next Tom is in his fifties buthis new best friend at school is a beautiful young black girl in herearly 20's( yeah, that happens ).Unfortunately for her, Julia Roberts bought in to this gig based onHank's reputation no doubt. Apparently Julia can't read well enough tosmell a stinker when it is steaming in front of her. Julia has anaffair with student Tom, but the acting is so hokey and the charactersso wooden, it is tough to care.Tom should put the pen down and promise never to direct another of hisown scripts. Julia has proved that she can no longer make millionssimply by flashing more teeth in a single smile than would seem humanlypossible.Run, run far away and do not spend your hard earned money unless youenjoy watching former superstars embarrass themselves.

collipal-1

(2012-04-28 20:50:32)

A quite enjoyable film

Back in 1996, Tom Hanks made his debut as a director with the mediocreThat Thing You Do!. Now, 15 years later, he decided to make his secondmovie as a filmmaker with Larry Crowne, which despite not beingsomething brilliant, kept me very entertained, and I appreciated itsintention of recovering a honest, kind and inoffensive style of comedy,which seems extinct nowadays.The publicity of Larry Crowne suggests the film is a typical romanticcomedy; however, the truth is that the screenplay aspired to somethingmore complicated, which does not exactly fit into the romantic formula,but which neither stays very away for its established subjects. Let'ssay that the couple meets, falls in love...and nothing else. There arenot any lachrymose revelations nor unexpected twists; we simply havethe gradual revelation of compatible spirits whose attraction with eachother is not exactly physical or sexual, but the result of solitarylives who might improve a little bit with some intimate contact.Besides, I guess that the relaxed ending might disappoint to those whowere expecting a big romantic gesture, or a declaration of eternallove. However, I liked that minimalistic tone, as well as the pleasanthumor which rounds around this passive love story.But that is not all, because parallel to the incipient romance, wewitness the main character's evolution...with which the screenplay alsotakes a very interesting road. Larry Crowne is not one of those moviesabout the "loser" who becomes a "winner" thanks to the magic of love,the popularity or the use of phrases such as "be yourself". The maincharacter is the same person on the beginning and at the end of themovie; but the things he lives introduce subtle changes in hisattitude, his comprehension of the world, and even his nature, leavingus the impression that his evolution is just starting. And now that Ithink so, I guess that that is the point from the movie: sowing theseeds of the change of the main character and making us to imagine hisfuture flowering.As for the performances, I do not have any complains either. Hanksmakes a solid work in the leading role, and I also liked the work fromthe supporting cast, highlighting Cedric The Entertainer, MalcolmBarrett and George Takei. Finally...Julia Roberts, who co-stars themovie with Hanks. I am not a big fan of hers, because there werevarious films in which I did not like her performances (two examples:Erin Brockovich and Dying Young). However, there have been a fewoccasions in which she was able to bring competent works, like in LarryCrowne. Her "Hollywood star" status never interferes with herperformance in here, which I found honest, detailed and totallycredible.The complain I have against Larry Crowne is that some scenes feel a bitrepetitive. For the rest, I enjoyed this film pretty much despite notbeing something excellent, and I think it deserves a recommendationbecause of its many positive elements.

Adrian Lim

(2012-04-28 14:10:36)

Larry Crowne is like organic wholemeal ciabatta.

While I was scrolling through the different titles available thisweekend, I chanced upon "Larry Crowne". Looked it up on IMDb; not sogood - an average of 5/10. Scroll down further and voilГѓВ ! Written byTom Hanks himself, gotta see it. And I'm glad I did.First, let me get the 'acting' part out of the way - It's good. Notmind-blowing, but most certainly good enough to be worth the US$9weekend price of a movie ticket here in Singapore. The actors were goodenough that I felt connected, and that's as good as it ever has to be.As for the plot - nothing jaw-droppingly complicated and twisted, butthen again neither was Forest Gump. And what a big success that movieproved to be. Don't expect character development to blow you away, butit did, at the very least, impress me.Of course, if you walk into the theater expecting "Harold & Kumar" or"Chuck & Larry" humor, you would most definitely be sorelydisappointed. Some others have criticized the film, saying that it had"cheap laughs" at best. Now that isn't necessarily true, because it alldepends on what your expectations are.So hear this - Larry Crowne isn't an all-out-LOL-fest, it's a wholesomefilm sprinkled with subtle, clever, and thoughtful humor.In my opinion, this film was an excellent cross-section representationof the sandwiched American Middle-class - too rich to qualify forwelfare, too poor to save any money. Most people (outside the UnitedStates) wouldn't know the America shown throughout this film - wherefolks are priced out of their own states, where they attend communitycolleges that aren't crazy over keg parties and crawling withbikini-straddling blonds, where students have to juggle work andschool, where they might have to choose the former over the latter toooften.Hollywood glamorizes the American lifestyle each and every chance itgets, and this film provides a rare glimpse into the real America wheremost people reside.All things considered, I would consider this film a feel-good movie,and there's much more to it than meets the eye. If you enjoyed ForestGump, you'd most likely enjoy this one - even if the feel-goodness setsin slightly more subtly.One final thing - I've never written a review for any movie before,ever. But I felt that the reviews here (as of 9th July 11) were doingLarry Crowne such injustice that I had to write this to balance it out.Cheers.

Hellmant

(2012-04-28 02:04:49)

It's just so happy in it's mediocrity!

'LARRY CROWNE': Two and a Half Stars (Out of Five)Tom Hanks directs his second feature film (after 1996's 'THAT THING YOUDO'). He also co-wrote the screenplay with Nia Vardalos (the writer andstar of 'MY BIG FAT Greek WEDDING', which Hanks produced) and stars inthe film with Julia Roberts. With all that high caliber A list talentattached you'd think the film would be something special (especiallyfor a summer release) but it's not. It's just an average romanticcomedy with nothing witty, new or original to offer. There are a fewlaughs and touching moments but for the most part the film is mediocreat best.Hanks plays the title role of Larry Crowne, a humble and well likedemployee of a successful retail store who suddenly finds himself laidoff when the store has to resort to downsizing in order to maintainhigh profits. Although he was extremely good at his job (and employeeof the month nine times) he's let go due to his lack of collegeexperience. Forced to sell his house and his car to get by he decidesto go back to school in order to better himself and improve his chancesof finding employment. Once at school he finds new friends in fellowoutcasts and develops a crush on his speech teacher Mercedes Tainot(Roberts). Mrs. Tainot has lost all passion in her job and love for herporn addicted husband (Bryan Cranston) and finds inspiration in Larry.Larry of course finds new inspiration in life (as well) as his wholeworld begins to change.The film is funny at times (nothing laugh out loud but it is mildlyamusing) and it's also inspirational to a certain extent (but nothingwe haven't seen before). With Hanks and Roberts starring in the filmyou just expect an attempt at something more at least. It just feels sohappy in it's mediocrity, which is a little bizarre coming from whatappears to be a big summer movie (at first glance) with two ofHollywood's biggest stars in the leads. I loved Hank's firstdirectorial effort, 'THAT THING YOU DO', and it's actually one of myfavorite films of his. So knowing he has so much more to offer makesthis all the more disappointing. Not a bad film just very far from agood one.Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN5KZOE7p28

potato2

(2012-04-26 14:17:52)

Forgettable

Tom Hanks stars a Larry Crowne, a happy, friendly, hard worker at aTarget-like store who gets laid off because he never went to college.He enrolls in a community college, makes friends with a lot of youngstudents, and is lucky enough to have a speech teacher played by JuliaRoberts.Co-written and directed by Hanks, this movie falls flat. It'sgood-natured and wholesome enough, but so innocuous and predictablethat I fell asleep twice and rewatching it didn't help. From the momentLarry meets his stunningly beautiful teacher (who just happens to wantout of a very bad marriage), you know everything is going to turn outhappily, but the movie is so slow-moving, it seems to take forever toget to the end. Hanks comes across as an ideal man who likes and isliked by everybody; he plays his character effortlessly and is verygood. Roberts plays against type by playing an unpleasant and unhappywoman, but you know she's going to be transformed by Larry's sweetEveryman persona. The young students who 'help' Larry adjust to collegelife are pushy and annoying and I never believed that he would befriendthem.All in all, this lightweight romantic comedy is just okay, becausedespite Hanks' best efforts, it's actually pretty dull.

stavrosss

(2012-04-26 04:00:42)

went home and saw Forrest Gump on DVD..

One of the worst movies i've seen so far this year..me and my friendssuffered throughout the entire movie and regretted for choosing it inthe first place.Tom Hanks' name fooled us to watch the movie believingthat at least it would be a decent movie to watch.Julia Roberts was notup to the task either.We were trying to figure out why on earth thesetwo talented and Oscar winning actors decided to star in such amovie.It looked as if they were two washed up actors who tried to provethat they still ''have it''.I felt sorry for them who made a fool ofthemselves trying to make us laugh with some silly jokes and goofyfaces but failed tragically to do so... we went home and watchedForrest Gump for the fifth time just to regain our respect for TomHanks..

creability-1

(2012-04-26 20:49:38)

One of the worst ten movies I have ever seen...

I saw "From Dusk til Dawn" in a movie theater when it came out. I leftafter about 10 minutes, but that movie was way better than this pasty,silly, off putting, poorly written piece of nothing. If there was azero rating, I would use it here.Acting and in extension script-writing, directing, has to be a)effortless and b) believable. Unfortunately this movie managed none ofthat. A script that was so incredibly unbelievable paired with actingof dubious (at best) quality made this a train-wreck of a movie.Train-wreck in the sense that although horrible, it is hard to avertyour eyes. The make over of the Umart employee of the month to what hebecomes, chain in his wallet and all. The over-acting outside Julia'sdoor, looked a lot like Meg Ryan, it is one of the two moves she isasked to do in all movies she is in. The gang, brrrrrrr, horror ofhorrors... the gang...We get it, economic downturn, you can make it work! Think positive!There must be a better way of showing it!Save your money and above all, save your time.

(2012-04-26 05:08:33)

Definitely on the light side, but hits home in a lot of ways

Larry Crowne, directed by Tom Hanks, from a screenplay by Tom Hanks and Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) is not a deep movie, which is disappointing because it could have been. But that said, Hanks and Vardalos get a lot of the important stuff right and as a result Larry Crowne hits home in a lot of ways. The issues it touches on - job loss, divorce, worry about losing your house, having to start your life all over again both career-wise and romantically - are things that will connect and resonate with a lot of people these days. The title character, Larry Crowne (Tom Hanks) is a likeable guy who works hard at his job as a "team leader" at the local U-Mart where he's worked every day since doing 20 years in the Navy right out of high school. He enjoys his job, likes his co-workers who like him in return, and has been voted Employee-of-the-Month multiple times. And so it comes as a complete shock when he's summoned by the management who tell him that they're letting him go because he doesn't have a college degree. Which is disastrous news for Larry as his house is underwater mortgage-wise and finding a new job is proving nigh impossible. Encouraged by his next-door neighbor Lamar (Cedric the Entertainer), who's been running a perpetual yard-sale on his front lawn for the last ten years, Larry decides to go to the local college and get a degree that will, in Lamar's words "make you fire-proof!" One of the courses he ends up taking is a public-speaking course taught by Mercedes Tainot (Julia Roberts), a teacher who's suffering from burn-out in her job and disenchantment with her marriage. Predictably, and yet without succumbing to easy cliche, a cautious spark of romance begins to kindle between them as each begins to move beyond their set-backs and disappointments and towards re-starting their lives.There are a number of key scenes where the film really strikes a resonating chord with what a lot of people have either been through or going through in recent years. The early scene where Larry is being fired is priceless where the managers use convoluted corporate-speak language to make it sound like they're doing Larry a favor by firing him. Another scene is where Larry is at the bank trying to talk to them about his underwater mortgage and the same thing happens as they talk him into doing whatever he can to continue making payments even though there's no way he can sell the house or keep up with the payments, again using contorted bank-speak to make it sound like they're acting in his interests and not their own.The supporting cast is excellent and really helps keep things interesting with stand-out performances by Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Talia, a hurricane-on-wheels of irrepressible perkiness who takes charge of giving Larry a new look as well as a new set of friends, and manages to do a feng-shui makeover of his house in the process; Wilmer Valderamma as Del, Talia's frequently glowering and much put-upon boyfriend; Malcolm Barrett as Dave Mack, a student in the public speaking class who, against type, turns out to be a major Trekkie; and George Takei has a delightfully dry comic turn as the serenely self-important Dr. Matsutani who teaches Larry's Economics 101 class. And Cedric the Entertainer does another grand scene-stealing turn as Lamar, who lives to haggle with people at his never-ending yard sale. And in the why-is-that-face-or-voice-familiar? category: Grace Gummer who plays Natalie, one of Larry's fellow students, is in real-life the daughter of Meryl Streep, to whom she bears a striking resemblance; Rita Wilson, who plays the let-me-not-help-you bank rep Wilma Gammelgaard, is Tom Hanks' wife in real life; and Nia Vardalos supplies the voice of the annoying Map Genie GPS system in Mercedes' car.On the somewhat minus side however, Bryan Cranston, who was brilliant in TV's Malcolm in the Middle and Breaking Bad, doesn't seem to quite hit the mark as Mercedes' shiftless porn-addicted husband, Dean. And Pam Grier is largely wasted in her role as Frances, Mercedes' friend and fellow teacher.The one real drawback to Larry Crowne is that it never digs very deep, particularly on the emotional level, in spite of all the stressful life-changing events Larry and Mercedes are facing. Hanks' Larry, for example, _never_ gets angry, in spite of his being fired for inane reasons, having to face losing his house, etc. Neither does Roberts' Mercedes, no matter how much her husband lets her down or insults her. Annoyed or peeved is about as far as they go. Hanks and Vardalos, as director and writers, could have gone for more, given the things Larry and Mercedes must deal with in their personal lives, but they just keep things fairly light. Which is not bad exactly, as the film is enjoyable. But in the end, you're left with the feeling that they could have gone for more.Again, while Larry Crowne is not a terribly deep film, it does connect in a lot of ways, and I think a lot of people will relate to it. Recommended for anyone who wants to find something whimsically upbeat and hopeful about dealing with the things life can throw at you these days.

jomarios-1

(2012-04-23 05:59:59)

A nice comedy worth seeing it

This comedy is a surprising movie whose main attraction are the twomain characters of the story. Both are well depicted especially theJulia's personage. Julia has never disappointed me through any of herroles in the dozens of films she has appeared in. The film is justhighly enjoyable because its subtle story presented through a beautifulphotography and sustained by an enjoyable music and sound editing. It'snot only a nice comedy but also a fluid modern story which reflects notonly several aspects of a rotten home but also the discovery of aspontaneous and promising new relationship. We can say we have knownpeople and homes with this kind of situations, and that sometimes theyreflect before our eyes how life is sometimes so complex or, on thecontrary, so easy to accept and enjoy in spite of the difficulties wefind in our unending pursuit of happiness.

ketgup83

(2012-04-22 16:11:51)

Could Have been better.......

Larry CrowneThe Opening :- Larry Crowne was a decent attempt by a talented actorTom Hank. Of course , it was let down by a weak script and loosescreenplay. Thank god , it was compensated by powerhouse performerslike Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks The Story :- Larry (Tom hanks) is incredibly happy with his job , hislife but his world shakes up when he is fired from job at a shoppingretail as he was not qualified enough for the position. He decides tocomplete his education and goes ahead to enroll into a university for apublic speaking class where he develops a crush on his teacher Mercy(Julia Roberts). Mercy, herself, is going a turmoil in her life as herporn- addicted husband sits for whole day writing blogs and doingnothing else. Subsequently, she too develops feeling for Larry and whatfollows next is that how they fall for each other and end up meetingone another later. The review You don't doubt Tom Hanks when it comesto his acting skills but he has a long way to go to become a gooddirector. The movie starts out well but ends going nowhere. The storyrevolves around main character Larry and his daily sync up withdifferent people. What could have been interesting flick turns out tobe just-just-about-OK film. Surely , Tom hanks and Julia Roberts werethe only saving grace in the film coupled with background score byJames Newton Howard but that's it. You expect a powerhouse performancesby one of the finest actors but you will be let down by an averagescript. The bottom line Overall, the movie was just about OK-dokiewatch. You may want to catch it for eve flick. Average– 2.5 / 5

Maeve T

(2012-04-19 01:48:50)

Loved the movie but dismayed at fans' reaction

This is my first review here in IMDb and I felt I just had to defendthe movie esp Tom Hanks. I really felt bad that a couple had to tellhim in person they thought he did a bad job with it. I understand theneed for constructive criticism but there is a right time and place aswell as the right person for it.The movie was not at all too long or boring. It was beautifully fine.It was a feel-good movie and anyone who thought Hanks wanted it to besomething else was definitely bound to be disappointed. I even broughtmy teenage brother to watch it and he loved it - a huge thingconsidering he generally prefers to watch either action flicks or thecerebral stuff.

Brent Armour

(2012-04-18 22:19:10)

Larry Crowne

I was kinda surprised when Tom Hanks stepped in for Richard Gere in"Larry Crowne", the way too late for anyone to care "Pretty Woman"Sequel.So now our big shot, likeshimselfsomehookers, billionaire has fallenvictim to the recession like everyone else, and is now unemployed andjust kind of all around sad, really. He finds out quickly that a degreein whoremongering doesn't get him anywhere so he swallows his pride andgoes back to school. In a severe twist of fate, made even punchier byall of the 'teacher/schoolboy' fantasies they've played out in thepast, Julia Roberts is teaching the class: "How sell your soul to thedark lord and never age......Read the rest of this review @ http://skipnappan.com

tabuno

(2012-04-18 11:25:13)

A Feel Good Movie For Our Age and Time

This feel good movie captures the emotional stress of our maturingworking population and our economic doldrums. The authentic everymanand everywoman portrait has a sensitive touch for the mainstream over35 generation and avoids all over selling and over dramatizing throughits restrained script, yet touching relevant points of experience andmalaise that is infecting our society and living experience. Cedric theEntertainer entertains without his wacky, acidic style while both TomHanks and Julia Roberts capture their roles and relationships well andwithout any of the typical melodramatics and over the top stunts foundin almost all other romantic comedies. This is a solid movie thatdoesn't need additional thrills, subplots along with some captivatingsoundtracks. The weakest part of the film is the final speech thatdidn't catch on fire, a non-memorable two minutes that didn't capturethe depth of emotion. Tom Hanks has some great facial scenes,particularly in the beginning and else where his character speaksmillions without saying anything. Well worth the money for those whoare now experiencing the pits of despair as Larry Crowne to escape theharsh reality of now and issue forth some modicum of entertaining hopewhich is exactly what the movie was likely supposed to do.

peter

(2012-04-17 16:57:17)

A silly treatment of a serious issue

Tom Hanks, I would have expected much better from you. This is a light whimsical brush off of a very serious issue facing many Americans. It is handled in a childlike moronic way. Not much to recommend this made for TV low quality effort. The "romantic" aspect is predictable and simpleminded. Awful, just awful!