Reescribiendo

Marc Lawrence (Miss Congeniality, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, Two Weeks Notice, Music and Lyrics, etc) both wrote and directed this light hearted comedy and while its focus is on comedy, the film has a lot to say about midlife crises, career choices, student life, and learning to be optimistic.

An Oscar-winning writer, Keith Michaels (Hugh Grant) is on hard times – poor followup films, no interest from the industry, bad debts, a divorce, and writer's block – and his agent finds him a screen writing teaching job in Binghamton, NY at SUNY. Arriving in the town he is put off by the incessant rain, drinks in a local bar and picks up a student (Bella Heathcote) who wants to be in his screen writing class and his bed, and makes a fool of himself at the faculty welcoming reception when he angers the Jane Austen expert Mary Weldon (Allison Janney), embarrasses his boss Dr Lerner (JK Simmons), and has a wretched start with his first class (instead of reading the 30 screenplays from which he is to select his class he instead goes online and selects the most attractive girls). He encounters Holly (Marisa Tomei), a single mom taking classes there and that develops slowly into a meaningful, life changing relationship. Despite the efforts of friends he has made, his affair with a student nearly dismisses him from his job, but he stays because of his unexpected growing interest in his students and in teaching – and Holly, of course.

The movie is light but good hearted and Hugh Grant, Marisa Tomei et all make it very worth watching.

Film of Choice in a Boeing 767 at 36,000 feet - The Rewrite. I wanted something light and predictable for a 7 hour transatlantic flight and had about 50 films to choose from, how times have changed. The rewrite stars Hugh Grant as a once bright young Oscar winning screen writer who hasn't written anything of note since. Divorced from his wife, alienated from his son and so broke his electric gets cut off, he is forced to take a teaching position in a small American town in the back of beyond. This is a typical Hugh Grant vehicle, and while there is nothing outstanding about this film, if you are a fan of his acting style and the way he bumbles through his film is the same fashion time and again, you are guaranteed to like this film. I find I can watch his films and enjoy them, and he is helped along here by Marisa Tomei who is a single Mum taking his class. Unlike its main character, this film is not an Oscar winner but is a fairly watchable effort.

Hugh Grant is an icon and icons get older too, like the rest of us mortals. Here's a wonderful movie portraying a 'has been' screenplay writer in Hollywood struggling through life, divorced and no clue how to be a dad to his 18 year old son, which he didn't speak to for over a year. He hits rock bottom and is forced to teach at a remote university upstate New York to pay his bills.

In the bumpy process through it all he realizes that teaching gives him a true perspective on his own life and enjoyment for being valued by his students. He finds peace in not juggling anymore in Tinseltown. The script is magnificent, it tells a story through a comic lens with a melodramatic touch. It's a a classic romantic comedy with lots of nice movie clichés. Hugh Grant didn't loose his touch, he matured and accepts it, the floppy hair turned grey. Excellent casting by the way. Nice to see Marisa Tomei, Allison Janney and J.K. Simmons in a supporting role.

Hugh Grant and Marissa Tomei. That actually should be enough. And most of the running time it is enough. At the highest points this get, it is really witty and funny and light entertainment. Nicely written then. But maybe some passages would've worked better with a re-write (yes I went there - pretty sure not the first and only one to do so of course).

Apart from the obvious pun and the already mentioned lead cast, we have a more than stellar surrounding cast. If you haven't seen Whiplash yet, do so. Though you might see the actor playing nice here with a completely different mind set. There are some extra bits at the end credits, with a really nice pun from one of the younger cast members. I also liked the fact that it didn't shy away from hot topics. Even if not entirely discussing them through (not always necessary)

Stories about writers who are having difficulty putting pen to paper are a dime a dozen, but I found this one charming. Hugh Grant plays the fallow screenwriter who follows the adage, "Those who can't...teach." His life is a total failure on all fronts, but he manages to survive thanks to a droll wit and his refusal to lay down and die.

Marisa Tomei plays the object of his distracted attention with her usual aplomb. Without committing to anything, she becomes the rudder to his floundering ship, with insight and a tender recognition for his hidden value. But it is Grant who makes this film something special, imbuing every scene with an honesty that makes the story enjoyable. Here he is not so glib as he is dealing with the trials of every moment.

This is a sleeper I must recommend.