Review: 'Morning Glory'

In Morning Glory, Rachel McAdams plays Becky Fuller, a young and passionate news producer with a can-do attitude that's so over-the-top hopeful, it's on the brink of naivety. After being let go from her position at "Good Morning New Jersey," she embarks on a relentless mission to find a new job. When she's given the opportunity to produce the struggling national morning show "Daybreak" she jumps at the chance, although the ratings are just about as dismal as the budget.

On her first day on the job, Fuller makes the ballsy choice to fire the highly inappropriate incumbent male anchor (played by "Modern Family" actor, Ty Burrell) and is forced to find an adequate replacement. Due to monetary restrictions, she's forced to find a potential anchor who is either willing to work for a laughable salary or who is already under contract with the network. Enter Mike Pomeroy (played by Harrison Ford) a curmudgeonly veteran newsman who is known for his stoic demeanor and journalistic integrity. Although he initially scoffs at the idea of discussing fluff like the latest diet trend or home decorating on a budget, he agrees to anchor "Daybreak" when he realizes that the completion of his contract (and receiving his generous salary) basically depends on it.

Morning Glory follows Fuller's attempts to inspire Pomeroy to rise to the morning show agenda, although he's made it clear he has no intention of becoming an ebullient TV caricature, like his co-host Colleen Peck (played by Diane Keaton). The rest of the film is relatively predictable; Fuller's tenacity and hard work eventually yield positive results, and Pomeroy teaches Fuller a few life lessons that help the hotshot producer realize that there's more to life than just a career.

This film is pure lighthearted fun, with a plot that plugs along and keeps you interested the entire duration of the movie. Rachel McAdams and her can-do attitude are so adorable that it's hard not to back her cause and root for her to succeed at saving Daybreak from certain cancellation. Harrison Ford also shines as he flexes comedic skills in the role of Mike Pomeroy. His portrayal of this grumpy character is humorous even when the dialogue is not. However, it's a shame that the audience doesn't get to see more of Diane Keaton, who so naturally embodies your typical middle-aged morning show talent, I'm convinced she could be in a fill-in "Today Show" anchor on Meredith Vieira's days off.

At the risk of sounding cliche, Morning Glory is literally what can only be described as a "feel good" movie. But surprisingly it manages nail the "feel good" element without being gratuitously saccharine. Admittedly, it's predictable, but the combination of the likability of the actors and the entertaining plot line helps it manage to be enjoyable nonetheless.