Family Movie Night
One of the great things about being a movie reviewer is seeing newer actors and watching their careers develop.
When Rachel McAdams started showing up in movies, I really liked her.
Mean Girls with Lacey Chabert and Amanda Seyfried, picture from IMDb.com
I enjoyed her brief time on screen in The Hot Chick with Rob Schneider. a raunchy movie for older teens and young 20somethings. But then she was the Queen Bee in Mean Girls (perfect teen girl movie) and it started her towards a road of good and interesting roles.
Take a moment to compare her to Lindsey Lohan who was the ‘star’ of Mean Girls. Lohan had a few good roles and then went on the crazy train. But McAdams has stayed even-keeled and continues to have a solid career.
Her next big movie was The Notebook (2004), perhaps one of the most romantic movies ever, in which she plays a woman who has a great love, loses that love and finds it again with Ryan Gosling.
With Cillian Murphy in Red Eye, picture from IMDb.com
But then McAdams went on to make some movies that were more adult fare consisting of The Wedding Crashers with Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, Red Eye with Cillian Murphy, The Family Stone with Diane Keaton and Craig T. Nelson, and The Time Traveler’s Wife with Eric Bana. One of her bigger movies to date has been Sherlock Holmes as the former love interest of Robert Downey Jr. who always has an ulterior motive for every thing she does.
I mention all of this because McAdams’a latest movie in which she has the lead role is coming to the home theater market. Morning Glory tells the story of a TV morning show producer who is learning how to balance life and work, be it successful or failing.
With Harrison Ford in Morning Glory, picture from IMDb.com
The anchors are portrayed by Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford. They do not always get along and Ford finds his latest job beneath his dignity. All of them muddle through the experience and find something new. It is a movie that is not exactly a romantic comedy and not exactly a dramedy, maybe a little breezy. But it looks like a whole lot of fun for adults looking to take a break.
This is one movie I never got to see in the theater but I am looking forward to watching it with a big bowl of popcorn. So what if there are no explosions or chase scenes involving deadly force. I think I am ready for a bit of a smart and fun slice of life movie with Rachel.
Until next week, see you in the rental aisle.
Let the world know about your latest pick for Family Movie Night and drop a note below.
Notes from Rumbly Cottage 
I hadn’t heard of this one – sounds pretty interesting! I’ll have to check it out.
My husband and I saw this in the theater (with admittedly low expectations, but I love Rachel McAdams), and it was actually a lot better than expected! McAdams is clearly the star, even when she’s on screen with Keaton and Ford, who seemed a little “off” somehow. I will definitely be renting this to watch again – the love story was somewhat lacking, but it was overall a fun story of a young woman trying to make it in a tough career.
The husband is gone this weekend and I think I am going to be watching it!
I may be the only person on the planet that didn’t LOVE “The Notebook”. Bleh.
However, I think McAdams is A-DORable! I haven’t seen “Morning Glory” yet, either…but am looking forward to it for something light and refreshing…with no explosions or F-bombs.
blessings
jane
I am not a big fan of Nicholas Sparks. There is never, ever a happy ending. I am told that one must enjoy the journey of his books/movies. However, we all knows what happens in the end.
oh .,. this is a tempting little minx of a movie isn’t it? I think I’m watching it, too. She’s adorable .. and I hope it’s as cute as the previews!
🙂 MJ
It was, it was!! Loved it and never felt a moment of wincing.
Have you had a chance to go over to Educlaytion and vote in the March Movie Madness? Part 2 is still open till midnight.
I have not done this. I love what he does but I have been in a gunk the last few days.
To your post.. I discovered her in Time Travelers Wife which I loved because it was a very good translation of the book to the screen.
I could never quite get into this book. I think it was the time period because I read Atonement at the same time and HATED it. Saw the movie and loved it.
I adore Rachel McAdams and I’m so happy you did a post on her! I’ll admit I’ve only seen a few of her movies, but she has a great on-screen presence and from what I’ve read in interviews with her, she’s a pretty cool person too – not so much attracted to the fame and glitter of Hollywood as many other movie stars. I’ll definitely be checking out Morning Glory soon! Thanks for the review.
Halie
I read that she lives in Canada and stays away from the Hollywood crap. Good for her. Her biggest mis-step personally was being involved with Ryan Gosling – good actor but I think he is a bit arty-farty self-absorbed in real life.
I saw this in the theater at Thanksgiving. It was fun and heartwarming…the best kind of movie! And I agree, I like Rachel McAdams…she’s interesting and certainly a good actress…very versatile! It’s a movie I would see again…and I don’t do that often! Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford are fun in their roles as well.
Sheila Gibson
I watched this over the weekend and really loved it. She sold it for me. I felt so sorry for the character when her mom is doling out the ‘give up your dream’ speech. There was a certain cruelty in it that explained why McAdams’ character is so driven.
I really like Rachel McAdams. Such a solid performer.
Loved her in Mean girls, generally was just bored to tears with The Notebook and had higher hopes for The Time Travelor’s Wife. One of the best books ever!!!
Thanks for your thoughts. I’ll give this movie a try. the world has been topsy turvy lately we all could use a breather.
Never heard of this before, but thanks for opening up my eyes.