Larry Crowne (2011)

After losing his job, a middle-aged man reinvents himself by going back to college.

Director:

Tom Hanks

Writers:

Tom Hanks, Nia Vardalos

Stars:

Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Sarah Mahoney

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Hanks	...	Larry Crowne
Sarah Mahoney	...	Samantha
Roxana Ortega	...	Alvarez
Randall Park	...	Trainee Wong
Brady Rubin	...	Dorothy Genkos
Alex Quijano	...	Team Leader #1
Tina Huang	...	Team Leader #2
E-Kan Soong	...	Team Leader #3
Tarina Pouncy	...	Team Leader #4
Sy Richardson	...	Avery
Julie Wagner	...	Vacuum Shopper
Rob Riggle	...	Jack Strang
Erin Underwood	...	Mom with Baby
Dale Dye	...	Cox
Barry Sobel	...	Cubby

Storyline

Until he was downsized, affable, amiable Larry Crowne (Hanks) was a superstar team leader at the big-box company where he's worked since his time in the Navy. Underwater on his mortgage and unclear on what to do with his suddenly free days, Larry heads to his local college to start over. There he becomes part of a colorful community of outcasts, also-rans and the overlooked all trying to find a better future for themselves...often moving around town in a herd of scooters. In his public-speaking class, Larry develops an unexpected crush on his teacher Mercedes Tainot (Roberts), who has lost as much passion for teaching as she has for her husband. The simple guy who has every reason to think his life has stalled will come to learn an unexpected lesson: when you think everything worth having has passed you by, you just might discover your reason to live.

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Plot Keywords:

character name as title | college | scooter | bus stop | community college | 

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Taglines:

Never too late in life to start living.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language and some sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [France] Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 July 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Talk of the Town

Filming Locations:

Reseda, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,096,065, 3 July 2011

Gross USA:

$35,608,245

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$72,008,245

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Vendome Pictures, StudioCanal

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS Datasat

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Larry (Tom Hanks) is getting fired for not going to college, Jack Strang (Rob Riggle's character) holds up his class ring and says "SMU Class of 1986. Solid gold. They weren't giving these things away." In 1986, SMU was given "The Death Penalty" by the NCAA for major infractions, including graduating students who had not earned an academic degree.

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Goofs

It is far more likely Julia Roberts' character would go by Professor Tainot than Mrs./Ms. Tainot to her students. She cannot go by Dr., since she earned only a Masters degree, but her title as a college instructor would still be Professor.

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Quotes

Mercedes Tainot: [to Larry] Would you... Would you like to kiss me? Just if you... If you wanted to kiss me, it would really be your lucky night, because I'm half in the bag and my husband won't be home for, you know, three to five years.

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Crazy Credits

Some of the roadsigns shown in the background don't have actual place names on them but words used in the movie, like 'Chilloot Park' (from a line said by Dean Tainot), or 'Break even paradox' (from a line said by Larry Crowne during Economics 1).

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Connections

References Bambi (1942)

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Soundtracks

The Hundredth Time
Written by Nick Krogovich
Performed by Gigi
Courtesy of Tomlab by arrangement with Terrorbird Media

User Reviews

It's just so happy in it's mediocrity!

'LARRY CROWNE': Two and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

Tom Hanks directs his second feature film (after 1996's 'THAT THING YOU DO'). He also co-wrote the screenplay with Nia Vardalos (the writer and star of 'MY BIG FAT Greek WEDDING', which Hanks produced) and stars in the film with Julia Roberts. With all that high caliber A list talent attached you'd think the film would be something special (especially for a summer release) but it's not. It's just an average romantic comedy with nothing witty, new or original to offer. There are a few laughs and touching moments but for the most part the film is mediocre at best.

Hanks plays the title role of Larry Crowne, a humble and well liked employee of a successful retail store who suddenly finds himself laid off when the store has to resort to downsizing in order to maintain high profits. Although he was extremely good at his job (and employee of the month nine times) he's let go due to his lack of college experience. Forced to sell his house and his car to get by he decides to go back to school in order to better himself and improve his chances of finding employment. Once at school he finds new friends in fellow outcasts and develops a crush on his speech teacher Mercedes Tainot (Roberts). Mrs. Tainot has lost all passion in her job and love for her porn addicted husband (Bryan Cranston) and finds inspiration in Larry. Larry of course finds new inspiration in life (as well) as his whole world begins to change.

The film is funny at times (nothing laugh out loud but it is mildly amusing) and it's also inspirational to a certain extent (but nothing we haven't seen before). With Hanks and Roberts starring in the film you just expect an attempt at something more at least. It just feels so happy in it's mediocrity, which is a little bizarre coming from what appears to be a big summer movie (at first glance) with two of Hollywood's biggest stars in the leads. I loved Hank's first directorial effort, 'THAT THING YOU DO', and it's actually one of my favorite films of his. So knowing he has so much more to offer makes this all the more disappointing. Not a bad film just very far from a good one.

Watch our review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QlrJnwsHOM