When hard-working TV producer Becky Fuller (McAdams) is fired from a local news program, her career begins to look as bleak as her hapless love life. Stumbling into a job at “Daybreak” (the last-place national morning news show), Becky decides to revitalize the show by bringing on legendary TV anchor Mike Pomeroy (Ford). Unfortunately, Pomeroy refuses to cover morning show staples like celebrity gossip, weather, fashion and crafts – let alone work with his new co-host, Colleen Peck (Keaton), a former beauty queen and longtime morning show personality who is more than happy covering morning “news.” As Mike and Colleen clash, first behind the scenes and then on the air, Becky’s blossoming love affair with fellow producer, Adam Bennett (Wilson) begins to unravel – and soon Becky is struggling to save her relationship, her reputation, her job and ultimately, the show itself.
I was quietly surprised by this film, looking at the trailer it sort of looked like a drawn out chick flick that we have all seen before but after seeing MORNING GLORY in all of its glory it makes for a new and exciting romcom. Directed by the man behind the film ‘Notting Hill’ and penned by the writer of ‘Devil Wears Prada’ seems to me that’s a winning combination, with quite the ensemble cast including the ever so cute Rachel McAdams (The Notebook), Harrison Ford (Firewall, Starwars), Diane Keaton(The First Wives Club) and Jeff Goldblum (Independence Day) the film centres mainly around Becky played by McAdams and the drama that surrounds the day to day running of a morning breakfast TV show, ‘DayBreak’.
Granted this film is still technically a chick flick but having an injection of Harrison Ford made this movie just as fun for me! Ford plays the Angry Veteran TV Journalist Mike Pomeroy who just wants to quietly live out his IBS Network contract until Becky comes into frame and starts to mess that up for him, some of these moments are hilarious and Ford really does manage to pull it off. As always Rachel McAdams just lights up the screen, she just brings such a presence to any film she’s in. Diane Keaton is just as strong as she always is, even though it is pretty funny that her and Harrison Ford have never worked together on screen until now! Just a notable mention as well Ty Burrell (TV’s Modern Family) plays one of the Co-Hosts on the Breakfast show and his character is just so over the top and completely up himself you really do wonder if any of the guys on Sunrise or even NBC’s Today Show are anywhere close to how this guy is, its that pathetic it’s funny.
MORNING GLORY is what it is, a fun movie! Honestly it was just refreshing to sit down, watch a film and laugh along with it most films these days either have so much going on or they are just batshit boring and this film is definitely neither of them.
MORNING GLORY hits cinemas this Thursday; I give it 4 out of 5 stars.