REVIEW: ‘…Did You Hear About The Morgans?’

Being that I am a moody private eye who prides himself in being an indie film lover, it might surprise you that I’m a sucker for a good romantic comedy starring Hugh Grant. Over and over he plays a jerk that gets it right only about half the time but has enough vulnerable charm to keep the girl and make us smile. When an actor brings that kind of baggage to a film, you know what to expect. Depending on the script, director and cast you may end up watching a hit or a disaster.

“…Did You Hear About The Morgans” Rated PG-13 • 103 minutes Starring Hugh Grants, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sam Elliot, Mary Steenburgen Written And Directed By: Marc Lawrence RCC Rating: Worth Seeing At A Matinee

Although the film’s writer/director Marc Lawrence has been a seasoned comedy writer going back to the 1980s (“Family Ties), it is only his third film as a director. It is also his third film with Grant (“Two Weeks Notice,” “Music and Lyrics”). It’s not a stretch to say that Hugh Grant has perhaps filled the shoes of the other (Cary) Grant. Just like the previous two films, Lawrence pairs Grant with an A-list comedy actress in Sarah Jessica Parker. She brings to the film her trademark nerdy sexiness and three decades of comic experience.

“…Did You Hear About The Morgans?” hits all of the right notes. The set up is a comedic version of an opening from “Law and Order.” The typecasting of cop-types Seth Gilliam (The Wire) and Sam Elliot as straight men and Michael Kelly as the hit man keep the film’s pace smooth and maintain focus on the film’s lead actors. The standout of the film was TV actress Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men) who played Parker’s assistant. She owned her scenes and shows great promise as a talent to watch for in films to come.

As in most fish-out-of-water stories, there are a number of funny situations. The bickering couple fends off a bear while reading the instructions on a flyer. Their wide-eyed visit to Bargain Barn (the film’s version of Costco) reminded me of E.T.’s arrival on Earth.

Some films are difficult to define. This one is not. If you like romantic comedies, you will probably like “…Did You Hear About The Morgans?” Do not expect to be surprised, or a wide spectrum of emotion. Expect a good date night, expect to laugh and expect to smile.