photo © 2009 H. Michael Miley | more info (via: Wylio)I love the world of broadcast news. I have a bachelor's degree in broadcasting and love being a in TV studio. There aren't a whole lot of movies set in the behind the camera TV-world, so I really look forward to them when they are released. Morning Glory, the latest "news-movie" to be released, debates the question of how much "bran" (hard news stories) vs. "donuts" (fluff pieces) should be shown during a national morning news show. Both pleasant and trivial, this movie offers nothing new to the niche genre, and will please some, while disappointing many more.
The film has an all-star cast led by Rachel McAdams (The Time Traveler's Wife, Red Eye) who plays 28 year-old Becky. Down on her luck and recently fired, she takes the only job she can get working for the low-rated Day Break news show. It's a program that wants to be like The Today Show, but cannot keep up to that pace of professionalism. Through a couple clever (or stupid) turns, she convinces a legendary reporter, Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford), to join the other resident host Colleen Peck (Diane Keaton) after the firing of another host (Modern Family's Ty Burrell). The two veteran hosts don't get along - fighting over everything thrown at them including who says "goodbye" as the show closes. For poor Becky it's a nightmare - and the show doesn't improve. It will be cancelled unless something magical can happen in the six weeks they have left. You see where this is going.
Ironically enough, this okay film suffers from the very problem it's well-aware of - there is nowhere near enough "bran". This is a happy little movie that is too afraid to throw any real conflict into the mix. Every problem is solved with a smile, every fight is stopped with a hug - it's just too much. There are people who will probably love it for it's tidy little story-lines and unrealistic resolutions, but I am not one of them. While there were some genuine laughs, there was just too much stupidity for me to ultimately suggest seeing this movie. It's a good one to wait for on DVD. I would give it a 5.5 out of 10.
Family Take: While there is nothing objectionable other than a few strong instances of profanity and a small amount of sexual dialog, children simply won't be interested in this movie.
If You Like Morning Glory Try: Broadcast News may be overly dramatic, but it offers a far more realistic view of the newsroom.
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