Likeable movie string Tom Hanks as Larry Crowne, a forty something man who's job at the big-box store has just vanished. It seems that despite a great work record, he has no college and is once again being passed up for promotion. This time, his job has been downsized, and with a mortgage he can't pay following a divorce, he is now unemployed. With no visible options, he decides to enroll in college and try to better himself. Here he meets Mercedes Tainot (Julia Roberts), his Public Speaking class teacher. She is at that stage of her career and marriage where she is sick of both and looking for change. Along comes Larry, and with his mature exuberance and upbeat ideas of reinventing himself, she finds that her problems seem to disappear when he is around. He falls in with a much younger group of people who are joined together by the fact that they all ride motor scooters. They are a diverse group and it seems that Larry is the "binding agent" that keeps them together and inspired. Larry works hard at several jobs and studies hard. His business professor played by George Takei, inspires Larry and is also inspired by him because of not only his interest in the course, but for his genuine eagerness to learn. Larry is what you would call one of those students that reinforce the main reason that you become a teacher. Larry and Mercedes have come together at the right time and place further reinforcing the idea that sometimes life truly can give you what you really need. This is a cute movie.Read full review
This is such a great feel-good movie! With stars like Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, how can you go wrong? The whole cast are perfect in their roles and very engaging. It’s both funny and endearing. I think it sort of slipped through the radar when it came out and it definitely deserved more attention. BTW besides his leading role in the film, Tom Hanks directed and co-wrote it. I love all genres of movies, especially thrillers and/or romance. Over the years I also have tried to build a collection of movies like this one to watch when I’m feeling a little down. I’m so happy to add Larry Crowne to that.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
As a film I'd give it a four, but for the DVD I'd give it three stars. I worked background on this okay film, and obviously went to see it when it was released in cinema. To my surprise, a (rather important) small storyline segment was not used, which changes the entire storyline, oddly enough, and/or was removed to neglect an aspect the film doesn't cover (in the film he is not shown returning to get back his job; the original not-used scene/s show the upper management planning his firing for age, and using his "lack of" education as an excuse to get around their age-discrimination). I rented the film when it hit DVD and learned that rental versions of the DVD show that there are deleted scenes and a featurette, but are not actually included: just a message one has to Buy The Disc to see the featurette and/or deleted scenes (hence my purchase here). To my disappointment, a few of the large in-store scenes shot for the film's beginning are not included in the deleted scenes, and barely touched on during the featurette, and also puzzling, considering all the Tweets that Tom Hanks did during the production and post-production, there's no audio commentary. It's not really a bad film as such for a rom-com (particularly for hardcore Tom Hanks and/or Julia Roberts fans), and George Takai steals every scene he's in, and wonderfully so, and being a Doctor Who fan, can't neglect mentioning Oxford England-born Gugu Mbatha-Raw (who played Martha Jones' sister on Doctor Who), not only carrying much of the film, but again demonstrating her flawless American accent she does so well.Read full review
...E for excellent! This movie shows just how charming Tom Hanks is I every role he plays, and likely always will be. Julia Roberts plays curmudgeonly professor to a T, and the entire cast is an absolute delight! Great soundtrack, too. 😎✌️
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Alas, poor Larry Crowne, left behind in a world that values a college diploma over a life's experience of knowledge. However, not in my world; I've seen too many pimply faced young adults who have never learned the golden rule about being passionate in everything you do especially at work, family and love lives. Playtime is the only thing that they put any effort towards. Great movie though.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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