Movie Review

"Did You Hear About the Morgans?"

Review by Eric D. Snider

Grade: C+

Rating: PG-13

Released: Friday, December 18, 2009

Directed by:

• Marc Lawrence

Cast:

• Mary Steenburgen
• Michael Kelly
• Sam Elliott
• Sarah Jessica Parker
• Elisabeth Moss
• Hugh Grant
• Jesse Liebman
• Wilford Brimley

The makers of "Did You Hear About the Morgans?" probably would not consider this much of an endorsement, but here it is: It's not THAT bad. There isn't too much in the plot that's aggressively stupid, it produces a few chuckles here and there, and the cast is likable. It's not worth recommending, mind you, unless you're at the theater and you've seen everything else and a screening of this starts in 10 minutes -- and even then you should consider re-watching something else -- but it doesn't sink to the level of badness that you'd expect, given the premise. It's a mere mediocrity, snatched from the jaws of awfulness.

This is the third film written and directed by Marc Lawrence, and the others, "Two Weeks Notice" and "Music and Lyrics," also starred Hugh Grant. That seems like an odd partnership, but hey, whatever works. This time, Grant plays Paul Morgan, a New York lawyer who has recently separated from his real-estate broker wife, Meryl (Sarah Jessica Parker), due to his infidelity. Paul is deeply sorry for the one-time mistake and wants to reconcile, but Meryl is still hurt.

Then, wouldn't you know it, just as Paul is making some progress in getting Meryl to forgive him, they both witness a murder and most go into the witness protection program. Isn't that always the way? At first they stay in New York, with round-the-clock protection by law-enforcement officers, but it turns out the hitman (Michael Kelly) is more capable and savvy than the U.S. marshals, so the Morgans will have to change their names and leave the state altogether.

[To read the rest of the review, please visit Cinematical.]

Grade: C+

Rated PG-13, a little profanity, a little very mild sexuality

1 hr., 43 min.