This month's movie fortune cookie says, "Transition from directing a television series to feature film proves challenging."
Sadly, Marc Lawerence, director of the "Family Ties" sitcom hit, hasn't read his fortune yet. I'm pretty sure that Mr. Lawerence sat too long at his laptop, writing the half-baked disaster that is now known for all time as "Did You Hear About the Morgans?"
A sorry retread of 1997's "For Richer or Poorer", where a successful yet estranged New York couple must take it on the lam to protect life and limb while sniping at each other every step of the way in Any Hicksville, USA. Only here scriptwriter and director Lawerence decides to make the high maintenance couple dive for safety into the FBI's Witness Protection Program.
The story follows Paul and Meryl Morgan, a workaholic duo who find solace in their Blackberry phones and frantic lifestyle while ignoring their growing emotional separation. Meryl is simmering just this side of hatred because of Paul's half-hearted attempt at cheating, while harboring her own secret encounter. Hugh Grant has played a lovable hapless boy-man for so long that it now even looks to the audience like he's on auto pilot. Sarah Jessica Parker proves the point that she really needs to get back on a hit television show – quick, fast, and in a hurry.
But I can't heap the main pile of manure onto these two screen veterans. The words and direction come from Marc Lawerence, who's guilty of directing Hugh Grant in two other movies, "Two Weeks Notice" and "Music and Lyrics". The rock-bottom low occurred when Parker woodenly babbled Shakespeare's Love Sonnet 116 to a starry night and confused-looking Grant.
Did I say half-baked? Where did this director think Ms. Parker could take such high-brow dialog? Perhaps Mr. Lawerence had an ax to grind with the actress, who was so perfect in the little gem that was "State and Main", now reduced to Miscast Hell in this zero reel of a movie.
Director Marc Lawerence also proves the tired truth that when in doubt, just make fun of rural Americans in order to sell a script. He intersperses his tired dialog with even more boring one-liners about hunting, Sarah Palin, the southern diet, and the IQ of small-town folk. (Gee, didn't we see this in "For Richer or Poorer", too?) Of course, common sense Wyoming natives teach the Morgans a lesson in love and loyalty, not to mention training Meryl in the ways of wielding a rifle.
Sam Elliot and Mary Steenburgen fruitlessly struggle to play their cut-out characters without appearing too embarrassed. Yet, the only glimmer of humor comes during the too-short scenes between Elizabeth Moss and Jesse Liebman, as the frazzled yet devoted assistants to the Morgans. Seeing more of this sparkling duo could've raised the movie's over-all audience appeal.
Read the damn fortune, Marc!
Sadly, Marc Lawerence, director of the "Family Ties" sitcom hit, hasn't read his fortune yet. I'm pretty sure that Mr. Lawerence sat too long at his laptop, writing the half-baked disaster that is now known for all time as "Did You Hear About the Morgans?"
A sorry retread of 1997's "For Richer or Poorer", where a successful yet estranged New York couple must take it on the lam to protect life and limb while sniping at each other every step of the way in Any Hicksville, USA. Only here scriptwriter and director Lawerence decides to make the high maintenance couple dive for safety into the FBI's Witness Protection Program.
The story follows Paul and Meryl Morgan, a workaholic duo who find solace in their Blackberry phones and frantic lifestyle while ignoring their growing emotional separation. Meryl is simmering just this side of hatred because of Paul's half-hearted attempt at cheating, while harboring her own secret encounter. Hugh Grant has played a lovable hapless boy-man for so long that it now even looks to the audience like he's on auto pilot. Sarah Jessica Parker proves the point that she really needs to get back on a hit television show – quick, fast, and in a hurry.
But I can't heap the main pile of manure onto these two screen veterans. The words and direction come from Marc Lawerence, who's guilty of directing Hugh Grant in two other movies, "Two Weeks Notice" and "Music and Lyrics". The rock-bottom low occurred when Parker woodenly babbled Shakespeare's Love Sonnet 116 to a starry night and confused-looking Grant.
Did I say half-baked? Where did this director think Ms. Parker could take such high-brow dialog? Perhaps Mr. Lawerence had an ax to grind with the actress, who was so perfect in the little gem that was "State and Main", now reduced to Miscast Hell in this zero reel of a movie.
Director Marc Lawerence also proves the tired truth that when in doubt, just make fun of rural Americans in order to sell a script. He intersperses his tired dialog with even more boring one-liners about hunting, Sarah Palin, the southern diet, and the IQ of small-town folk. (Gee, didn't we see this in "For Richer or Poorer", too?) Of course, common sense Wyoming natives teach the Morgans a lesson in love and loyalty, not to mention training Meryl in the ways of wielding a rifle.
Sam Elliot and Mary Steenburgen fruitlessly struggle to play their cut-out characters without appearing too embarrassed. Yet, the only glimmer of humor comes during the too-short scenes between Elizabeth Moss and Jesse Liebman, as the frazzled yet devoted assistants to the Morgans. Seeing more of this sparkling duo could've raised the movie's over-all audience appeal.
Read the damn fortune, Marc!