‘What’s The Story, Morning Glory?’
In 2010 the movie Morning Glory was released, November 10th to be exact. Gross USA box office bringing in a reported $31.0M. Run time is 1h 50m, it’s classified as a ‘romantic comedy’ with a PG-13 rating. I can confirm there is both humor and romance, unsure of the PG-13 rating.
Movie synopsis: “Newly hired as a producer on a national morning-news program called "Daybreak," Becky Fuller (Rachel McAdams) decides to revitalize the low-rated show by bringing in legendary anchorman Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford). Pomeroy, however, refuses to do puff pieces like celebrity gossip and fashion, and clashes with his co-host (Diane Keaton). Meanwhile, Becky's romance with a colleague begins to unravel, leaving her struggling to save her relationship, her job and the show.”
Unofficially, it’s the most adorable, light-hearted film to grace the big screen.
I wish I had been able to see it in theaters.
There’s something about office-esque movies with cute 20somethings’ wearing chic pencil skirts, set in big cities with bland boardrooms that really float my boat. Glamorize office life!! Glamorize a big (probably so icky) city!! Sell me on this corporate dream!!
You can’t help but love our MC, Becky - she’s cute, frazzled, has big dreams, and an awful dating life (wait, am I talking about me rn?). Start to finish I am Team Becky. I love her two over-flowing tote bags she hauls around, how she rabbles on when talking, and how annoying her phone ring-tone is.
The love interest (Patrick Wilson) is the type of cute that every boy shopping at Target on a Thursday evening seems to share, wears boring man office clothes and deals so effortlessly with Becky’s workaholic tendencies. Swoon. Who doesn’t love a patient, medium-ugly man?!
The character arcs', found family feeling, and how everything is filmed in a solf yellow hue that all movies seem to share in the early 2000s’ = peak comfort.
I think it was my freshman year of college when I stumbled upon the book ‘Morning Glory’, written after the film was released (how backwards is that? A topic deserving of its own exploration.) in my local Goodwill. I purchased it because it had Rachel McAdams on the cover, which is reason enough for me. I believe I still have it someplace - later, I am going to make sure it is, in fact, shoved somewhere on the shelf.
This won’t surprise you, but I loved the book and subsequently the movie. Still to this day I have the same warm feeling towards both of them.
Aline Brosh McKenna is a writer on the film - she was also a writer for 27 Dresses, and a screenwriter for The Devil Wears Prada. The woman is a genius and proven to be trustworthy. I’d like to think we’d get along.
Aline Brosh McKenna.
There’s something ridiculously like-able about films where the stress and stakes are LOW. I don’t understand the idea of wanting to ‘relax’ and watching a movie that induces stress. I’ll pass.
Maybe you’re someone who thinks that all romcom movies are low stress and easy-peasy? You’d be wrong.
The following is a list of romcoms where there is stress:
Sweet Home Alabama - I recently read somewhere online that there is a lot of ‘banter’ in this film. There’s not, but there is an insane amount of yelling and screaming. AND that bar scene - I’m stressed thinking about it.
The Family Stone- this is a painful one because it does contain Rachel McAdams, but the whole movie induces the feeling of walking on eggshells.
The Proposal- Lying. And lying is stressful.
While You Were Sleeping- Again with the lying. Can we just decide to tell the truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God?
Serendipity- I LOVE this movie but holy cow does it bring out the anxiety in me. All those near misses?!
How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days- Can you bounce back from something like that with a partner??
I am not saying that these movies are bad. (I AM saying The Family Stone is bad. I loathe that movie.), but they’re not relaxing little cutie films. Just because something ends well doesn’t mean it doesn’t drag you through it first. Consider me unwilling to be drug through it to get to the good ending.
I want the romance, warm fuzzies, and nothing else.
One of my favorite romance authors recently said, “Before I was an author, I was a reader with high anxiety who wanted books that are start to finish happy with low conflict. That’s why I wrote these books.” Ugh, Sarah Adams, you are speaking right to my heart. I am so glad someone else is feeling the same way when it comes to entertainment.
Adams writes the perfect low stakes books, previously closed door (again, another topic for another time - so many thoughts), easy-breezy beautiful type of ‘beach reads’. The Cheet Sheet is still a fav of mine.
Anyway, as I am writing this I am just finishing the movie Morning Glory, it is five hours away from the New Year, I am eating Annie’s Mac and Cheese, and drinking room temp water. Is it surprising I like bland, cutsie little movies?
Happy New Year to everyone, but people who watch war movies to ‘hangout and relax’.
Go watch this movie!!!!!!
