Larry Crowne

Earlier this month, Tom Hanks made an appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, at the end of which Stewart observed, "You will never ever not be adorable."

Tom Hanks is back in Larry Crowne, just to prove he’s still got it. All that producing he’s been doing gave us wonderful, meaningful films, but I think we can all admit we like him best when he’s doing his thing: comedy. With fellow screenwriter Nia Vardalos he’s come up with a clever little film targeted at his peers, middle-aged adults whose life carried them away from the madding crowd. As a retail clerk fired from his job for lacking a college education, Hanks is every bit as charming as he ever was. In fact, it’s a pleasure to see Mr. Charm opposite Julia Roberts, whose own uncommon beauty and feminine charm has often carried a film. For those of us who willingly forgot or avoided Charlie Wilson’s War, it’s a surprise that Hanks and Roberts haven’t collaborated earlier. Perhaps a more appropriate observation would be to say that it’s a surprise that the two haven’t made a romantic comedy together before.

All the same, the film would not work one bit if it wasn’t for the supporting cast. As always with a Hanks-produced film, the supporting roles are filled by actors that are both of a type and yet authentic. British actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw is captivating as free-spirited Talia, the scooter-enthusiast responsible for Crowne’s makeover. Talia’s no love interest though – her boyfriend is played by none other than That 70’s Show’s Wilmer Valderrama, who seems to have gone from funky to hunky overnight. Rami Malek is highly amusing as one of Crowne’s classmates; his performance reminded me of Justin Chambers’ turn as Massimo in The Wedding Planner. There are a few other familiar faces in the crowd; Cedric the Entertainer entertains as Crowne’s enterprising next-door-neighbor, and Hanks’ wife Rita Wilson makes an appearance as an optimistic bank representative.

Nia Vardalos voices the Map Genie in the film, and anyone who was a fan of Hanks’ cinematic directorial debut That Thing You Do! should keep their eyes and ears open for some inside jokes and references. Of course Rita Wilson was in That Thing You Do! as well (who could forget her sultry cocktail waitress?), but so was Holmes Osborne (college dean/Mr. Patterson). And can you place the line “We’re being invaded!” in both films? Wilson’s character’s last name in Larry Crowne is Gammelgard – maybe she’s related to Faye’s last good, true kiss. I don’t expect anyone to remember minutae from That Thing You Do!  but I do, and I’m on to you Hanks!

There aren’t many Hollywood actors one would truly call gentlemen, but Hanks is clearly one. He and Vardalos have cleverly written a story that avoids pitting the older and younger generations against one another, instead demonstrating a positive and cooperative friendship. It allows Hanks to create a role that doesn’t require the imitation of his previous successes or sacrificing his maturity It’s a fun movie, even if it drags at points, and you know exactly how it’s going to end. It’s still a good time, and a comfort to see Hanks return to comedy. It just makes you think, “Somewhere, something is right with the world.” For once.