I’m a big fan of TV morning news programs and I’ve been fortunate enough to have been on a few. That’s why I was so anxious to see “Morning Glory” when it came out last November. And I enjoyed it so much that I ended-up seeing it twice.
Rachel McAdams plays Becky Fuller, a producer working on a local, New Jersey morning show. She gets laid-off due to budget cuts but ends-up getting a job as executive producer of “Daybreak”, the lowest-rated morning show on network TV. It’s getting creamed by “Today”, “GMA” and “The Early Show”.
Becky lives for her work, and she’s very good at it. But it doesn’t take long for her to realize that turning this show into a hit isn’t going to be easy as she has to deal with a female co-host (played by Diane Keaton) who is tired of her job, a new male host (Harrison Ford), who was an evening news anchor and hates everything about morning shows, and a boss who wants better ratings.
Plus, she gets involved in a new relationship and has to juggle that with the demands of her job.
The first hour or so of “Morning Glory” is amusing, as it concentrates on Becky’s struggles trying to turn the show around and her relationship issues. But the film really kicks-in when Keaton and Harrison’s characters finally take the set together. They hate each other and it’s hilarious to watch.
Overall, the script is a lot less goofy than I was expecting, and the depiction of real morning news shows is very authentic. There are several laugh-out-loud moments and a lot of subtle humor and realistic touches.
The screenwriter of “Morning Glory” (Aline Brosh McKenna) also wrote “The Devil Wears Prada” (2006), another comedy about a young woman trying to survive in a high-paced, high-pressure world (in that case, the fashion industry). Yet the story is fresh and enjoyable, thanks, in large part, to the performances. All three of the major stars are excellent, especially Ford, who’s gets most of the best scenes. Others in the cast include Jeff Goldblum, Patrick Wilson (“The A-Team”), who plays the love interest, and Ty Burrell (“Modern Family”), who has a small, but very funny role.
“Morning Glory” is rated PG-13 for some adult situations and language, including one word in particular that comes out of the mouth of the show’s goofy weatherman in one of the movie’s funniest scenes. It’s geared for an older audience, but is o.k. for kids 12 and up, especially those who watch the morning news before they go to school or may want to work on a morning show as a career.
On The Official Kid Critic Report Card, “Morning Glory” gets a B+.
It was my second favorite film of 2010, and now that it’s out on DVD a lot of people who missed it in theaters will get to enjoy it. So, if you’re not into animation, family adventure or action films, this is the movie for you. And you don’t have to get up at 7 a.m. to watch it.