Morning Glory

Not a single scene, moment or line of dialogue in Morning Glory bears any relationship to reality, which is fine so long as the movie is a shambling, sardonic parody of morning television, with Harrison Ford as a seasoned “serious news” reporter dragged kicking and screaming onto a languishing, frivolous lead-in to The Price is Right called “Daybreak”. Veteran director Roger Michell (Notting Hill) gets a lot of mileage out of Ford’s horrified reactions at the inanity around him — the film is almost worth the slog just for his high-minded lecture about “the beauty of a frittata” — and the first hour or so is glossy, snappy, and largely painless. I particularly liked Diane Keaton, who tears into her role of Ford’s unrepentant hack of a co-host with more energy than she’s displayed on screen in years.

Sadly, Morning Glory is actually “about” the frantic workaholic producer (Rachel McAdams) with Today Show aspirations, brought on to save the struggling “Daybreak” after being fired from her local news job. Will she put down her Blackberry long enough to have a conversation with the hunky co-worker (Patrick Wilson) who’s so obviously into her? Will she convince Ford’s grouchy prima donna to swallow his pride and come to her aid? Will she stand by her suddenly thriving “Daybreak” family when The Today Show comes calling? These questions will be answered whether or not you care, and it’s entirely appropriate that Morning Glory ultimately turns into a celebration of quaffable, formulaic fluff.

-- Eugene Novikov

Released:	2010
Genres:	Romance, Comedy
Starring:	Rachel McAdams, Patrick Wilson, Jeff Goldblum, Diane Keaton, Harrison Ford
Directed by:	Roger Michell
Screenwriters:	Aline Brosh McKenna
Rated:	PG-13