Larry Crowne

With Wit, Reviewed By Kimmo Mustonenen

Larry Crowne (everyman’s everyman Tom Hanks) is an extremely diligent and good employee in a supermarket.  He also completes the unpleasant tasks with full dedication and spread good mood around.

When he is ordered by his superiors in the break room, he thinks, therefore, that he’s already determined ninth award as “Employee of the Month” (not like the one that had Dane Cook or Jessica Simpson thank God) will receive.

Instead, he gets the notice.  THAT notice.

The absurd reason: Larry has no college education and can not therefore be promoted.

Only in America, what?

The search for a new job quickly proves to be hopeless.  It also looks at certain areas that show extremely naive Larry can be.

So he follows the advice of his neighbor Lamar (Cedric the Entertainer) and enrolled at East Valley Community College to a class in rhetoric and to demonstrate in economic science (sweet!).

The first lesson in financial matters Larry receives before the first day of school at a gas station: while his huge vehicle thirsty swallows the expensive gasoline, next door is a gaggle of scooters with a few gallons only to drink.  So now goes Larry around on a two-wheeled vehicle.

Instruction, concerning his manner of speaking, he then receives from professor teacher Mercedes Tainot (Julia Roberts).  The lecturer is not particularly motivated, because their students give her as little attention as her husband Dean (Bryan Cranston), who proves to be lazy lecher – and a lazy lecher is no lecher at all.

Right?

The issue of unemployment?  “Larry Crowne”, after a while, only mentioned in passing.  Such as when Larry (played as Hank’s wife at the bank employee Rita Wilson) deposited the termination of his mortgage, which will lead to eviction.

Otherwise, the story focuses mainly on the transformation of the main character of a staid boring schmuck into an attractive educated manly one.

It is pretty much the complete opposite of the exciting lecturers from “Dead Poets Society”.  Instead, we recognize a lively classmate (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) who finds in Larry the dormant potential and asks him to put his polo shirt into his pants no longer.

The formation of Larry Crowne is also apparently quite superficial.

While Larry discovers a new life, of course, the professor reawakens gradually on her strengths.  Predictable ripples so the action from one scene to the next and most amazed by the innocence of the story (I really was).

But this weakness is somehow also a strength of the film.

It’s almost refreshing, as Hanks and co-writer Nia Vardalos almost completely abandon innuendo and profanity.

As a result, the humor is moving at a level worthy of a sitcom, but carefree conversation ranges from them, too, even if the message of the film ultimately turns out to be as honest as the main character.

Larry is at the end that is visible in a lecture – that life is the best school.  But not high school.  That sucked.

One and a half thumbs wagging in the air.  See it, but not twice.

Kimmo Mustonenen (Kimmo On Kino) – Behind The Proscenium

P.S.  Have you watched The Voice?  Christina Aguilera has giant boobs!  With this information before – I would have sooner than later watched.  Tune in!