“Morning Glory,” the new movie about our industry, is leaving critics underwhelmed. The film is about a young producer played by Rachel McAdams who lands a job at a struggling network morning show called “DayBreak.” The show is anchored by an ex-beauty queen played by Diane Keaton and an ex-retired hard news man played by Harrison Ford. McAdams is hired by the network’s head of news played by Jeff Goldblum. The film’s screenwriter, Aline Brosh McKenna, wrote “The Devil Wears Prada” and the general consensus is that while McAdams is charming, the movie’s tone and direction is confused.
- The Associated Press’ Christy Lemire wasn’t impressed with the film, calling it a “vapid hodgepodge.” It “feels like … well, a sunny, network morning show.” She does write that the movie “does get newsroom culture somewhat right, though, something so many other movies tend to get wrong.”
- The New York Times‘ Manohla Dargis suggests that the movie is “a passably amusing romantic comedy.” Dargis is amused by McAdams, calling her “effortlessly likable.” However, the Times proclaims a victory for “fluff” in the movie with “plenty of perky” to spare. The approach to the film, according to Dargis, “suggests that the filmmakers see their audiences less as viewers with thinking brains and more as patients with thick skulls.”
- The Washington Post‘s Ann Hornaday calls the movie “a fitfully funny romantic comedy set in the weary, bleary vineyards of morning TV.” However, Hornaday suggests the film “missed a rich opportunity” in that the young producer never relates to Keaton’s character in the movie. The Post writer presumes that this was “to avoid comparisons with ‘Prada’s’ Miranda Priestly and her eager assistant.”
- USA Today‘s Scott Bowles says the movie missed the mark between “the pompous goofiness” of “Ron Burgundy” and “the hot-tempered newsroom personalities” of “Broadcast,” because it “doesn’t want to offend a core demographic.”
Advertisement