Now you've heard about 'The Morgans,' so pass
The Morgans (Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant) are having a little trouble getting into the hoedown. (Sony Pictures)
Did you Hear About
the Morgans?
Running time: 103 minutes
MPAA rating: PG-13 (profanity, violence, sexual references)
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I liked "Did You Hear About the Morgans?" much better the first time around, when it was titled "City Slickers."
Actually "Morgans," a romantic-comedy teaming Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant, doesn't follow the exact same story line as "City Slickers," which starred Billy Crystal in 1991.
Both films are one-trick concept ponies about New Yorkers roughing it in the wild, wild New West. With Crystal and his big city pals Daniel Stern and Bruno Kirby, it was midlife crisis that forced them to try beans around the campfire.
Separated marriage partners Meryl (Parker) and Paul (Grant) Morgan leave town for a slightly more serious reason. It is life or death.
Meryl, a real estate tycoon, agrees to have dinner in New York with her disconnected attorney husband. (Though apologetic, he cheated. She didn't like that much.) After coffee and dessert, they witness a murder and become targets of a resourceful contract killer.
Even though they aren't exactly arguing under one roof at the moment (or for three months), the Morgans are rushed into witness protection together. That means a government jet ride to Tinytown, Wyoming to bunk with the local U.S. Marshal (Sam Elliott) and his pistol-packin' wife (Mary Steenburgen) out in what we used to call "the sticks."
Take it, "City Slickers," you've got it from here. "Did You Hear About the Morgans?" isn't just a one trick pony, it's a little cinematic horsey with blinders on.
Neither semi-estranged spouse had much time to pack for the sudden trip to an unknown destination. Grant, though, managed to bring along one suitcase and writer-director Marc Lawrence. If I could have grabbed just one, it would have been the suitcase.
This is the third collaboration between Grant, the very funny English gent of "Bridget Jones's Diary," "Love Actually" and "Notting Hill," and Lawrence. Unfortunately, Lawrence directed none of those. He pushed Grant awkwardly forward in "Two Weeks Notice" (2002) and "Music and Lyrics" (2007).
Whether it has something to do with the director or simply lousy karma, there's not much screen electricity buzzing between Grant and Parker as they learn to love the country bumpkin locals. When they're not jogging idly through bear country as nonchalantly as they might do in Central Park.
Actually, strike that last comment. I'm pretty sure Central Park is more dangerous than bear country.
The point is that "Did You Hear About the Morgans" only rarely conjures up genuine entertainment. Parker and Grant both behave as if their agents signed the respective contracts for this sputtering comic-romance when the stars weren't looking.
It's good to see perpetually irascible Wilford Brimley ("The Road Home," Quaker Oats TV spots) getting a gig -- albeit a small one -- as the irascible local cafe owner, though.
That's not enough to recommend this "City Slickers" rehash, though, goldarnit.
Actually "Morgans," a romantic-comedy teaming Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant, doesn't follow the exact same story line as "City Slickers," which starred Billy Crystal in 1991.
Both films are one-trick concept ponies about New Yorkers roughing it in the wild, wild New West. With Crystal and his big city pals Daniel Stern and Bruno Kirby, it was midlife crisis that forced them to try beans around the campfire.
Separated marriage partners Meryl (Parker) and Paul (Grant) Morgan leave town for a slightly more serious reason. It is life or death.
Meryl, a real estate tycoon, agrees to have dinner in New York with her disconnected attorney husband. (Though apologetic, he cheated. She didn't like that much.) After coffee and dessert, they witness a murder and become targets of a resourceful contract killer.
Even though they aren't exactly arguing under one roof at the moment (or for three months), the Morgans are rushed into witness protection together. That means a government jet ride to Tinytown, Wyoming to bunk with the local U.S. Marshal (Sam Elliott) and his pistol-packin' wife (Mary Steenburgen) out in what we used to call "the sticks."
Take it, "City Slickers," you've got it from here. "Did You Hear About the Morgans?" isn't just a one trick pony, it's a little cinematic horsey with blinders on.
Neither semi-estranged spouse had much time to pack for the sudden trip to an unknown destination. Grant, though, managed to bring along one suitcase and writer-director Marc Lawrence. If I could have grabbed just one, it would have been the suitcase.
This is the third collaboration between Grant, the very funny English gent of "Bridget Jones's Diary," "Love Actually" and "Notting Hill," and Lawrence. Unfortunately, Lawrence directed none of those. He pushed Grant awkwardly forward in "Two Weeks Notice" (2002) and "Music and Lyrics" (2007).
Whether it has something to do with the director or simply lousy karma, there's not much screen electricity buzzing between Grant and Parker as they learn to love the country bumpkin locals. When they're not jogging idly through bear country as nonchalantly as they might do in Central Park.
Actually, strike that last comment. I'm pretty sure Central Park is more dangerous than bear country.
The point is that "Did You Hear About the Morgans" only rarely conjures up genuine entertainment. Parker and Grant both behave as if their agents signed the respective contracts for this sputtering comic-romance when the stars weren't looking.
It's good to see perpetually irascible Wilford Brimley ("The Road Home," Quaker Oats TV spots) getting a gig -- albeit a small one -- as the irascible local cafe owner, though.
That's not enough to recommend this "City Slickers" rehash, though, goldarnit.
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