Larry Crowne English

Tom Hanks,

Gary Goetzman

Director:

Tom Hanks

Writers:

Tom Hanks,Nia Vardalos

Cast:

Tom Hanks,Julia Roberts,Bryan Cranston,Cedric the Entertainer,Taraji P. Henson,Gugu Mbatha-Raw,Wilmer Valderrama,Pam Grier,Rami Malek,George Takei,Grace Gummer,Rita Wilson

Larry Crowne helmed by actor Tom Hanks and co-starring Julia Roberts brings together two of Hollywoods finest actors. The bonus is an equally competent supporting cast.

The eponymous Larry Crowne is a nice guy who gets fired from his job because he lacks the education to qualify him for a management position. This happens despite countless awards as Employee of the Month.

With loads of help from his neighbours who are yards sales specialists,Lamar and BElla,Larry makes lifestyle changes and decides to go to a community college,where he enrolls for the speech class taught by the acerbic Mercedes Tainot and an Economics course taught by Dr. Matsutani,a weirdly funny professor. Finally,when Larry trades in his gas-guzzling SUV for a motorbike,he gets recruited into a motorcycle gang headed by the vivacious Talia and her boyfriend Dell. Talia also gives Larry a complete makeover, performs Feng-Shui on his house,and re-does his entire wardrobe. The reinvented Larry Crowne works at a diner. He eventually inspires the bad teacher to become a good one,abandon her porn-surfing loser of a husband,cure herself of alcoholism and fall in love with him.

When we are besieged by films that are heavily dependent on special effects,CGI,3-D and other enhancements,it is refreshing to watch a film that depends on nothing more than performances,script and basic essentials like location,etc.

Director-producer and actor Tom Hanks shares script credits with Nia Vardalos Big Fat Greek Wedding fame that Hanks had produced. Larry Crowne touches on the unemployment factor that haunts the US. It doesnt dwell on it,but turns the situation around such that the protagonist reinvents himself and inspires others. Much of the credit for Larry Crowne goes to Tom Hanks the director who has etched finely-tuned performances from his cast as well as himself. He has underplayed his scenes to showcase others,for instance: the final sequence with the speech students,where each actor gets a chance to shine individually. Julia Roberts puts in a crackling performance with her eternal warm smile that is momentarily missing as Mercedes deals with a brawl for a marriage,but is back under the gentle pressure of Larrys sunny influence. The chuckle-raising performances are from Cedric,the entertainer,and Taraji P. Henson whose comic banter,bargaining and advice fill some of the film. Then theres George Takeis funny professor.

Larry Crowne is a warm,funny well-made romantic comedy peopled by real characters.

RATING:

One star each for direction,performances and script.