'Larry Crowne' a fresh take on rekindled love
I have actually taught an introductory class in speech communications at Eastern Illinois University, and that is how I know Tom Hanks' new romantic comedy "Larry Crowne" nails the essence of that experience.
"Larry Crowne" tells the story of a downsized, middle-aged big-box store manager who sees education as the key to his future.
So he enrolls in classes at East Valley Community College: one in economics taught by the scariest teacher in higher education (erstwhile Mr. Sulu, George Takei); the other in informal speech taught by a disillusioned woman (Julia Roberts) trapped in a terrible marriage.
Hanks, who directed and co-wrote this screenplay with Nia "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" Vardalos, stars as the titular character, Larry Crowne.
He spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy as a cook and never attended college. So, his employer U-Mart cuts him loose because it regards him as a less desirable worker.
"Larry Crowne" has many facets to its story.
It offers a reassuring, fresh take on the reinventing-yourself-after-being-laid-off story.
It addresses finding romance on life's rebound with a maturity and sincerity we seldom see in Hollywood rom-coms.
It shows the craziness and optimism students bring to the college experience, and how teachers - flawed, but good teachers - can change lives in small and dramatic ways.
And, "Larry Crowne" bears the signature low-key comic style of director Hanks, who finally follows up his delightful directing debut "That Thing You Do" with a surprising movie all about how surprising people can be ... if you're paying attention.
Larry must deal with a huge life transition, not just in his job, but in everything. He bought out his wife's half of the house after their divorce.
Then came the economic plunge that made his house worth less than what Larry owes on it. He tries to sell what household items he can.
Good thing his neighbor Lamar (Cedric the Entertainer) has become the king of suburban garage sales. He and his wife (Taraji P. Henson) really like Larry, and that comes through in Lamar's attempts to hustle insane prices for his junk.
Larry takes a job as a short-order cook in a restaurant run by an old Navy buddy. Then Larry gets to speech class where he meets Roberts' Mercedes Taniot (<I>Tay-no</i>).
She drinks too much and doesn't like her students, her job, herself or her husband ("Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston), a failed writer and an ugly human being.
We can guess that Larry and Mercedes will eventually come together romantically, and they do, but in a bold, honest way we don't expect, because the characters don't expect it, either.
Hanks ranks as one of the most democratic filmmakers, like Robert Altman, in that he regards peripheral characters to be as important as the main ones.
The ultra-cute co-ed Talia (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) takes an instant liking to her middle-aged classmate and adopts him as her own personal makeover project, over the grumbled protests of her not-as-tough-as-he-looks, leather-clad boyfriend.
"What do men find so attractive about irritating free spirits?" Mercedes wonders when she sees Larry with Talia.
Pam Grier plays Frances, Mercedes' fellow teacher and confidant.
Then we have the nine other speech students who struggle to overcome their fears and learn to speak in public comfortably.
The most amusing is Steve Dibiasi (Rami Malek), whose ditsy take on the lovable class dummy transcends the cliché.
If you watch "Larry Crowne," do yourself a favor. Near the end when Mercedes walks into Larry's diner for the first time, walk out of the movie theater the moment they exchange knowing looks.
That's the perfect ending to "Larry Crowne." It's subtle and you know how things are going to turn out.
But no, Hanks makes a total blunder by including an additional, superfluous scene that robs his movie of a crisp, smart finale.
He almost ruins his Crowne-ing moment.
<b>“Larry Crowne”</b>
★ ★ ★ ½
Starring: Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Cedric the Entertainer, Pam Grier, Taraji P. Henson, Bryan Cranston
Directed by: Tom Hanks
Other: A Universal Pictures release. Rated PG-13 for language and sexual situations. 98 minutes.