‘Larry Crowne’ a fresh take on rekindled love

Julie Roberts and Tom Hanks in "Larry Crowne" Downsized store manager Larry (director Tom Hanks) falls for his college public speaking instructor (Julia Roberts) in the comic romance “Larry Crowne.”

I have actually taught an introductory class in speech communications at Eastern Illinois University, and that is how I know Tom Hanks’ new romantic comedy “Larry Crowne” nails the essence of that experience.

“Larry Crowne” tells the story of a downsized, middle-aged big-box store manager who sees education as the key to his future.

So he enrolls in classes at East Valley Community College: one in economics taught by the scariest teacher in higher education (erstwhile Mr. Sulu, George Takei); the other in informal speech taught by a disillusioned woman (Julia Roberts) trapped in a terrible marriage.

Hanks, who directed and co-wrote this screenplay with Nia “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” Vardalos, stars as the titular character, Larry Crowne.

He spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy as a cook and never attended college. So, his employer U-Mart cuts him loose because it regards him as a less desirable worker.

“Larry Crowne” has many facets to its story.

It offers a reassuring, fresh take on the reinventing-yourself-after-being-laid-off story.

It addresses finding romance on life’s rebound with a maturity and sincerity we seldom see in Hollywood rom-coms. (Read more…)

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