FilmSnobReviews

Title: The Rewrite
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Director: Marc Lawrence
Starring: Hugh Grant, Marisa Tomei, J.K. Simmons
Runtime: 1 hr 46 mins

What It Is: Keith Michaels (Grant) is and Academy Awards winning screenwrite but he’s recently had a rough go of it. Unable to find work since his win he is looking for a way to make ends meet in Holllywood. When his agent informs him that all the wells in SoCal have dried up she offers him an opportunity to teach at a small college in New York state. Upon arrival Keith quickly realizes this will be nothing like Los Angeles. From fellow faculty members and their eccentricities such as Professor Weldon’s (Alison Janney) penchant for Jane Austen or Dr. Lerner’s (Simmons) uncontrollable sobbing at the thought of his wonderful family. As for the students they’re a rough batch including an older student Holly (Tomei) trying to figure herself out even into her 40’s.

What We Think: It’s a really by the numbers romantic comedy. Grant is his charming, quippy self. Marisa Tomei does a version of her schtick and it seems as though everyone is seemingly just doing a version of themselves, except Simmons whose over sentimental turn here is a far cry from the role he just won the Oscar for. What hurts the film is it’s story. You know the ride your taking and you know the destination as if it were input into your GPS for you. It’s not a poor film just not very good. It makes no qualms about just existing. This film seems content in it’s mediocrity.

Our Grade: C, Yes a film content with mediocrity accomplished just that. If you are looking for a good way to kill a few hours and this film is on your DVR or you want to order it on VOD it’ll do the job. However if you’re looking for something that’ll reinvent the wheel that is the romantic comedy you are certainly barking up the wrong tree.