Video: A cinematic cup of good morning joe!
By: Holley Sinn

Verdict: Approved

People who work in television don't usually enjoy films about people who work in television. Generally speaking, filmmakers don't seem to take the time to get to know our jobs before they portray us. And, while we can all accept a measure of whimsy and fantasy on the big screen, no one likes to see their profession dumbed down or totally misrepresented. Being that the last television-centric film I saw was "The Ugly Truth" starring Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler, I walked in to "Morning Glory" starring Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton, anticipating my certain forthcoming agitation and contempt. But...surprise! Someone cared enough to get it right...or...er...mostly right....and frankly, what isn't accurate is perfectly forgivable thanks to dynamite casting and clever writing.

"Morning Glory" stars Rachel McAdams as Becky, a morning show producer who loses her job at a New Jersey affiliate but refuses to give up her dream of producing a similar product at a national level. When she lands a job as an Executive Producer of a floundering national morning show, Becky must make some immediate critical decisions in an effort to improve the program's dismal ratings. Her biggest task is replacing the show's lazy male co-anchor which she does by securing the already contracted old-school newsman Mike Pomeroy, played by Harrison Ford.

The reluctant Pomeroy refuses to do "fluff" stories, casting a pall over the show's already diminished morale and inciting building frustration in his co-anchor, Colleen Peck, played by Diane Keaton. As Becky struggles to keep her anchors from verbally destroying each other on the air, she is also endeavoring to build a normal relationship with fellow network producer, Adam Bennett, played by Patrick Wilson. When the network general manager, played by Jeff Goldblum, alerts Becky to the impending finale of the show's run, she must come up with a plan to solve all of her problems at once without self-destructing.

"Morning Glory" is a charming and delightfully realistic take on the world of morning television, but more importantly, it is a story about overcoming obstacles and identifying priorities. Harrison Ford delivers a pitch perfect performance as a bitter, been-there-done-that hard news reporter bent on avoiding the frivolous world of morning television and Rachel McAdams is adorably naïve, if not a little exhausting, as the wind that refills his proverbial sails. Add in some clever dialogue and a lovable supporting cast and you have a TV-focused film that is as sweet and energizing as a morning latte with a couple sugars and extra foam.

"Morning Glory" is officially Holley-Approved, rated PG-13 for some sexual content and a smidge of bad language, and I encourage all of my morning television friends to see it together. I promise, it will prompt a big ole group hug.