The Rewrite was surprisingly good. Hugh Grant stars as the stereotypical writer who had a big hit but now has had a long dry run and stands on the outside looking in on the successful side of Hollywood.
Grant (as Keith Michaels) is desperate for money, so he accepts a job in upstate New York's sleepy town of Binghampton, working as a teacher for a Screenplay Writing class. He's never taught before, how he picks his class is classically funny, how he teaches is a laugher, and how he interacts with the class is truly funny.
Grant meets Marisa Tomei who gets him to look more seriously at his actions. She's an older non-traditional student in his class who is seemingly everywhere on campus. Grant has a silly relationship with a young student which I still cannot fathom why that had to be there, except to show how stupid Grant was.
However, Grant's self-deprecating humor, and his willingness to fire torpedoes at all his colleagues, was really funny. Allison Janney plays the head of the department and she too was terrific. She's an impressive actress who plays this stick-in-the-mud department head who likes things the way they are and is in no mood for Grant's silly behavior.
Grant is though a pretty good guy who is really a pretty good mentor because no one can teach a course better than someone who has reached his level. Will he eventually realize this? What will happen with him and Tomei, or with this young student. will the truth prevail?
For a pretty simple film, there's enough intrigue to keep you involved and wondering how it will turn out, like McFarland, or Hoosiers - will the good guy do the right thing or sell out?
I recommend The Rewrite - good solid story, good acting. Enjoy.
Grant (as Keith Michaels) is desperate for money, so he accepts a job in upstate New York's sleepy town of Binghampton, working as a teacher for a Screenplay Writing class. He's never taught before, how he picks his class is classically funny, how he teaches is a laugher, and how he interacts with the class is truly funny.
Grant meets Marisa Tomei who gets him to look more seriously at his actions. She's an older non-traditional student in his class who is seemingly everywhere on campus. Grant has a silly relationship with a young student which I still cannot fathom why that had to be there, except to show how stupid Grant was.
However, Grant's self-deprecating humor, and his willingness to fire torpedoes at all his colleagues, was really funny. Allison Janney plays the head of the department and she too was terrific. She's an impressive actress who plays this stick-in-the-mud department head who likes things the way they are and is in no mood for Grant's silly behavior.
Grant is though a pretty good guy who is really a pretty good mentor because no one can teach a course better than someone who has reached his level. Will he eventually realize this? What will happen with him and Tomei, or with this young student. will the truth prevail?
For a pretty simple film, there's enough intrigue to keep you involved and wondering how it will turn out, like McFarland, or Hoosiers - will the good guy do the right thing or sell out?
I recommend The Rewrite - good solid story, good acting. Enjoy.