Morning Glory (2010)

I didn't expect much from this but Jack chose it because we like Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton, plus Jack taught a high school student who went on to become a TV producer, and I was pleasantly surprised at how many laughs we had beyond those from the trailer. Despite Keaton's star power, she is but a supporting actress to the talented Rachel McAdams (her breakthrough role was as one of the Mean Girls (2004), she was also good in Wedding Crashers (2005) and Sherlock Holmes (according to imdb the sequel is filming right now), and she played one of Keaton's daughters in The Family Stone (2005)), who is adorable as awkward producer Becky, a multi-tasking workaholic. Harrison Ford is pretty darn funny as the "third worst person in the world," narcissistic, award-winning newsman Mike, and Keaton (my faves: anything by Woody Allen (she won her Oscar for Annie Hall (1977)), Reds (1981) for which she was Oscar-nominated, Crimes of the Heart (1986), Baby Boom (1987), The First Wives Club (1996), and Something's Gotta Give (2003) which got her a fourth nomination--I can't remember if I saw her third nominated performance in Marvin's Room (1996)) is also wonderful as the perpetually irritated but always professional co-anchor Colleen. Jeff Goldblum (I wrote about him in The Switch) is reliably good as the big boss, Ty Burrell (doofus dad Phil on Modern Family) has a comical bit as a co-anchor, as does Matt Malloy (I don't think he's had a leading role but he's a funny guy) as the weather man, and John Pankow (long list) and Patrick Wilson (also The Switch) are fine, too. Watch for quick looks at Elaine Kaufman (owner of Elaine's nightclub), and newsmen Chris Matthews, Bob Schieffer, and Morley Safer playing themselves. Although IBS is apparently an actual television studio, I laughed every time I saw it, thinking of irritable bowel syndrome.

Director Roger Michell brings experience with comedy (I loved both Notting Hill (1999) and Venus (2006)) and drama (Changing Lanes (2002), The Mother (2003), and Enduring Love (2004) were all first rate) to the table. And writer Aline Brosh McKenna is no slouch either, having adapted the screenplay for The Devil Wears Prada (2006), among others.

Fabulous original music by David Arnold (How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, Quantum of Solace, and plenty of other Bond and non-Bond work, including a Grammy for a song in Independence Day (1996)) plus the songs listed on imdb (in my opinion, too many songs and not enough score) and beautiful panoramic shots of New York by Alwin Kuchler (Proof (2005), Solitary Man, and more) contribute to the overall entertainment value. Despite its 54% rating on rottentomatoes, it is sixth at the box office today. We think it's worth seeing to lift your spirits with something fluffy. I said "fluffy."