'Morning Glory'

'Morning Glory' (PG-13) (3 1/2 stars)

Writer: Aline Brosh McKenna
Director: Roger Michell
Starring: Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford, Diane Keaton, Patrick Wilson, Jeff Goldblum, Matt Malloy, John Pankow, Ty Burrell, Patti D'Arbanville, Adrian Martinez

There is something addictive about morning talk shows on television even if you realize what you are watching is corny or fluffy. That is what former news anchor turned morning talk show host Harrison Ford can't stand, fluffy. The new romantic comedy "Morning Glory" nails that corny morning talk show feeling and feels like it knows it's subject. I believed that this was how one of these shows was actually made. This is not a deep satire or a great movie but thanks to Rachel McAdams it becomes great. This movie reminded me of James L. Brooks classic "Broadcast News" which was just put in my top ten list of my 100 Best Movies of the 80's. "Morning Glory" is in no way near as great as that movie but Rachel McAdams reminds me of Holly Hunter in that movie. McAdams owns the screen giving a performance that requires her to be manic, happy, frustrated and angry. She has that Julia Roberts, Amy Adams, Jennifer Garner presence that lights up the screen and makes us care.

"Morning Glory" is the story of Becky a television producer who gets hired to produce a struggling morning talk show. Becky has to hire a veteran news anchor to co-host the show with Colleen Peck, played by Diane Keaton. The co-host is Mike Pomeroy who is very cranky and stubborn and is played by Harrison Ford. Becky has to raise the low ratings of the show and has to deal with Mike and Colleen who hate each other. She is so busy she never has the time to find romance but she is attracted to another producer played by Patrick Wilson. I expected "Morning Glory" to become a romantic comedy but what makes this movie great has nothing to do with finding love. It would be too predictable to have the movie rely on whether Becky will find love. The strength of this movie is that it deals with a career woman who is trying to become successful and wants to get respect from her peers. She is not defined by a man and this movie doesn't focus it's attention on whether she will get her man. It all comes down to her career and a tough decision on whether to advance her career in a certain direction. The movie is very well written when it deals with a young woman trying to become successful in her career.

The movie is very funny in it's scenes between Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford. Separately they are not that strong but together their chemistry and how they play off each other is priceless. They don't like each other and Ford's insults are classic and his delivery is great. Also I love the look on his face and his reaction to some of the terrible stories that are reported. One of the best scenes has Ford and Keaton fighting to be the last one to say good bye at the end of the show. There are also many scenes in the movie that prove that Rachel McAdams is what makes this movie great. I love how she quickly deals with her show staff shouting at her at the same time with questions about the show. The way she stops before answering each question and then her reaction to each person is priceless. I love how she plays the scenes were she is called on to act nervous and flustered. There are shots of her smiling and of her reacting to Ford and to all the madness that surrounds her at the show that are magical. She brightens up the movie with her energy and determination and she plays off the other actors well. I also like what the movie had to say about these shows and how addictive and annoying they can be. After you see this movie you will know that in Rachel McAdams you have just witnessed a star in the making. Her performance is one of the best of the year and "Morning Glory" is fast, charming and a lot of fun.