Having taught undergrads at the college level, I believe that gives me license to critique the movie Larry Crowne. Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts are back together again, but in no way do they deserve your hard-earned money. I went because I wanted to see what Hollywood would do to the art and craft of public speaking.
Julia Roberts plays a cynical, disaffected community college professor who reluctantly teaches Speech 217: The Art of Informal Remarks. In every classroom scene she conveys a palpable loathing for her students, except at the end, of course, when she has been transformed by the “life is good” energy of her star student Larry Crowne, played by Tom Hanks. Did she have to hate her job? Would the movie be less compelling if she jumped out of bed every morning with the anticipation of shaping young minds and developing the talents of her students? Oh, wait, I get it: Larry Crowne is competing with Bad Teacher for box office revenues. But I digress.
Do not see this movie. I think Rex Reed said it best in his review: “In an endurance test of 99 minutes that feels more like running a marathon on the Equator, nothing ever happens in this movie. There is no conflict. The characters are dead on arrival. Somebody must be held accountable for clunky, unspeakable dialogue like ‘I was worked up and under the influence of the demon rum.’ I mean, who talks like that outside the pages of paperbacks for hyper-thyroidal teens sold in airport departure lounges?” Wow. Harsh.
On the bright side, the movie did get a couple of things right about public speaking. First, Mrs. Tainot (Julia) suggests to her students that they find three focal points in the room – one on the left, one on the right and one in the center of the room. And when you have an important point to make, look directly at the center point for full effect. Correct. One point for Hollywood.
The second thing they got right was how to deal with nerves. Toward the end of the movie when Professor Tainot is preparing her students for the final speech, she has them stand up and move their bodies in all sorts of ways while reciting tongue twisters loudly. This is a great way to diminish nervous tension and it was a real plus in an otherwise wasted two hours of my life.
Sorry Tom and Julia – I love your work, just not in this particular instance. But Rita Wilson? Your cameo as the mortgage loan officer stole the show.
– Barbara