Morning Glory (2010)

As a lighthearted and entertaining throwback to the witty work-based comedies of Hollywood past Morning Glory gets a lot right. Though coming from the director of Notting Hill and writer of The Devil Wears Prada, two of the better films of a similar ilk from recent years, it should at least to a certain degree be expected. It also heralds the return of that rarest of beasts, an enjoyable and committed performance from Harrison Ford who seems re-energised here in a way so unlike his recent output.
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Undoubtedly though the star of the piece is Rachel McAdams, she has impressed in other films up until this point, but front and centre here she puts in a truly notable performance, her mix of peppy eagerness and vulnerability neatly mixed with a real knack for physical comedy. She plays Becky Fuller, an aspiring news producer who dreams of one day working for the top rated network morning show. Upon finding her dreams falling apart she is accepted at a struggling TV station to try and boost their flagging program. It is in this effort that she strikes the idea of luring venerable, but ousted and embittered newsreader Mike Pomoroy (Harrison Ford) out of retirement and back into work, much to his reluctance. The rest of the film largely plays out to form with Mike and Becky learning from each other and plucky spirit overcoming obstacles, but nevertheless the somewhat grounded nature of the story and characters help keep the film engaging and the audience invested throughout.
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Giving great support are Jeff Goldblum as Becky's cynical boss and Diane Keaton as the long-suffering co-host of the program, her chemistry with Ford is hugely entertaining and the film's obvious but endearing view of the world of news and especially breakfast TV feels fairly astute. Patrick Wilson has a relatively small role as a potential love interest for Becky, but I was actually glad that film kept this sub-plot largely on the sidelines. So the film works as something of an expose on the behind-the-scenes workings of a TV program, but also largely deals with the mixture everyone must battle with of career vs. family. Becky's ambition and commitment to her job have real consequences and it was nice to see this being addressed rather than the typical 'you can have it all' message permeating, and it keeps Becky likeable and sympathetic when she could so easily come across as annoying or overbearing. Again a lot of this is down to McAdams who's inherent charms have never been so well harnessed.
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Ultimately Morning Glory isn't the deepest film, but it doesn't have to be. I found it a genuine surprise, thoroughly entertaining and upbeat with a very neatly worked and moving ending that manages to be as pleasantly low-key as the rest of the film. As I alluded to early on the film in many ways feels like something of a throwback with a fast paced script and entertaining characters,it's the sort of feel-good fare Hollywood should be turning out more often, so it's nice to recognise a job well done on those occasions that it all comes together this well.