New in Town (C- or 2/4 stars)
Lucy Hill (Renee Zellweger) stars as a high-powered Miami food executive in 'New in Town', directed by Jonas Elmer. Lucy is the kind of designer suit wearin', high-heel walkin', stiff upper-lipped, elitist go-getter who dreams of being the CEO of her company. Unfortunately for her, that dream becomes nightmarish when she's asked to restructure a food processing plant in middle-of-nowhere Minnesota. Once there, she sticks out like a sore thumb, demeans the Fargo-like locals, hates the freezing weather, & can't wait to start laying people off at the plant. She wants outta there. But Lucy finds one ally (amid a sea of unwelcoming northerners). She is the good-natured Marge (Sioubhan Fallon), her secretary at the plant.
And it is Marge who eventually has to mitigate a plethora of arguments btwn. Lucy & Ted Mitchell (Harry Connick Jr.), the local union representative for the plant workers. Before long, she starts to warm to the community; and the community to her. And with that, sparks begin to fly btwn. Ted & Lucy when she helps his 14 yr. old daughter prepare for her 1st date. But just when things look like they're going well for this duo, Lucy is told by her employers that she must tell the town the real reason why she's in Minnesota. And though she tries her hardest to save the plant, it may have to be shut down, anyway. Forced to reconsider her goals/priorities, can she find a way to both save the plant, & win-over Ted in the process?
What can I say that is remotely positive about 'New in Town'? Well, let's see. It's nice. It'll make you feel warm (if manipulatively so) during the cold winter months. It's comfy, cozy, traditional (aka something that would have been made decades ago), familiar, predictable, and it will make you smile (if you're in the mood). That's where the compliments stop, however. 'New in Town' is not a good romantic comedy, it's merely competent. So for those looking for something special, I recommend that you not see this movie. One of the weaker aspects of the film is its inability to get us to care about these characters as individuals or otherwise. And not only are the secondary characters one-dimensional, but Lucy & Ted are, as well! Lucy & Ted 'act' like they're interested in each other, but it's very hard to believe it. They meet, they argue, they make-up, he helps her, she helps him, they share a kiss, etc. ...
But the love story aspect of this film (a HUGE component) is severely shortchanged; underdeveloped. There's even a 3 minute (or so) montage near the end of the film re-hashing some of their menial moments together from earlier in the film! Why not just show a few more scenes where they're actually interacting!? Aside from this issue, the film also fails at giving us a fable for the hard times we're experiencing (i.e., a female in a power-position trying to save a blue-collar plant from closing). And my final complaint is that I found the film subtly insulting to those living in the Midwest. Everything from their accents, to their wardrobe, to their faith, to their jobs (factory work) was on display ... and usually for comedic effect. Overall, 'New in Town' is a below-average film that is cute (in parts), goes down easy, but often implausible, & rarely rises above 'Lifetime' television caliber.
And it is Marge who eventually has to mitigate a plethora of arguments btwn. Lucy & Ted Mitchell (Harry Connick Jr.), the local union representative for the plant workers. Before long, she starts to warm to the community; and the community to her. And with that, sparks begin to fly btwn. Ted & Lucy when she helps his 14 yr. old daughter prepare for her 1st date. But just when things look like they're going well for this duo, Lucy is told by her employers that she must tell the town the real reason why she's in Minnesota. And though she tries her hardest to save the plant, it may have to be shut down, anyway. Forced to reconsider her goals/priorities, can she find a way to both save the plant, & win-over Ted in the process?
What can I say that is remotely positive about 'New in Town'? Well, let's see. It's nice. It'll make you feel warm (if manipulatively so) during the cold winter months. It's comfy, cozy, traditional (aka something that would have been made decades ago), familiar, predictable, and it will make you smile (if you're in the mood). That's where the compliments stop, however. 'New in Town' is not a good romantic comedy, it's merely competent. So for those looking for something special, I recommend that you not see this movie. One of the weaker aspects of the film is its inability to get us to care about these characters as individuals or otherwise. And not only are the secondary characters one-dimensional, but Lucy & Ted are, as well! Lucy & Ted 'act' like they're interested in each other, but it's very hard to believe it. They meet, they argue, they make-up, he helps her, she helps him, they share a kiss, etc. ...
But the love story aspect of this film (a HUGE component) is severely shortchanged; underdeveloped. There's even a 3 minute (or so) montage near the end of the film re-hashing some of their menial moments together from earlier in the film! Why not just show a few more scenes where they're actually interacting!? Aside from this issue, the film also fails at giving us a fable for the hard times we're experiencing (i.e., a female in a power-position trying to save a blue-collar plant from closing). And my final complaint is that I found the film subtly insulting to those living in the Midwest. Everything from their accents, to their wardrobe, to their faith, to their jobs (factory work) was on display ... and usually for comedic effect. Overall, 'New in Town' is a below-average film that is cute (in parts), goes down easy, but often implausible, & rarely rises above 'Lifetime' television caliber.