Directed by Jonas Elmer. Starring Renee Zellweger, Harry Connick Jr., Siobahn Fallon, J.K. Simmons. Romantic Comedy. Synopsis: A corporate manager from Miama with dreams of being a CEO accepts an assignment to travel to a small production plant in Minnesota to evaluate it for potential downsizing. There she slowly becomes attached to the town folk in general and one brash gou in particular, who also happens to be the union representative she will have to face in business negotiations.
I really liked this one. No kidding. I know I've blogged before about how I'm not too big a fan of this genre, but New In Town, in my opinion, far outdoes the standard formulaic outlines of most of the movies in this genre which tend to be: 1) boy meets girl/boy loses girl/boy gets girl back or 2) girl meets boy/girl can't stand boy/girl falls madly in love with boy.
I'm not going to fib to you and tell you there aren't elements of both of those familiar themes in this flick but, in my opinion, the movie is also telling a very real story and telling it very well.
Lucy Hill (Renee Zellweger Chicago) is an upwardly mobile executive who is looking to distringuish herself in her company that specializes in corporate acquisitions. She lives a comfortable and corporate south Florida lifestyle.Lucy volunteers for an assignment to go evaluate on her company's holdings in Minnesota, specifically to assess it for downsizing.
As you might guess, a south Florida executive setting up shop in rural Northern Minnesota is a recipe for some laugbhs just based on the cultural shock alone, and the flick delivers these well, which is not as easy as you might think because, hell, we know what's coming.
The people of New Ulm, Minnesota seem different and a little strange to Lucy at first, even though her new secretary, Blanche (Siobahn Fallon Men In Black) is nothing if not unfailingly friendly. The same can't be said for the plant manager, Stu (J.K. Simmons Burn After Reading) who is upfront and open with his suspicions of Lucy and her true motives and ends up quickly on the top of her termination list. Also not in the Lucy Fan Club at the beginning is one of the more elgible bachelors in town, Ted (Harry Connick, Jr. Independence Day) who Blanche tries to hook up Lucy with from the beginning. Let's just say the sparks don't fly initially and two different worlds clash...which wouldn't be a big deal except for Ted is also the union rep. Lucy will have to "dialogue" with (when you see the flick, or if you have seen it, you'll know why I use quotes on that word).
Now, we all know Ted and Lucy are going to hook up, but the way they do is interesting and not too hokey. Most impressive for me, is that, while delievering up some real laughs, is that the all too real story of a small working class town whose main industry/employer is slowly but surely dying is woven into the story seamlessly and, to me, very effectively.
So, those of you who like to have your heart strings pulled and your tears jerked just might get what you want here, those of you who like to laugh will get multiples on that front, my personal favorite being Lucy not realizing why everyone at the dinner party is really wondering if her top is insufficient to keep her warm in the frigid Minnesota winter until she goes into the bathroom to freshen up a little...the premise is funny and well done and Lucy's attempts to "warm up" a little had me roaring.
The acting is well done, if the Minnesota accents were a little over done. Accurate, for those of us who have heard the tone, just a little bit over done. Zellweger is good, as usual and Connick showed me some depth and talent as an actor I didn't know he had, quite frankly. Simmons is in a familiar role as the irascible guy you kind of like nevertheless, but my vote for the outstanding performance goes to Fallon, whose performance as Blanche is just wonderful; delivering the comedic punch in limited dialogue but also great depth to the pathos of her character. I know comedic movies and the actors in them are persona non grata with the Academy in most years, but I would think Fallon should at least get consideration for a Best Supporting Actress nomination.
New In Town is going to give you what you expect, but what makes it one I'm going to say you should check out is that it also gives you a little more.
I really liked this one. No kidding. I know I've blogged before about how I'm not too big a fan of this genre, but New In Town, in my opinion, far outdoes the standard formulaic outlines of most of the movies in this genre which tend to be: 1) boy meets girl/boy loses girl/boy gets girl back or 2) girl meets boy/girl can't stand boy/girl falls madly in love with boy.
I'm not going to fib to you and tell you there aren't elements of both of those familiar themes in this flick but, in my opinion, the movie is also telling a very real story and telling it very well.
Lucy Hill (Renee Zellweger Chicago) is an upwardly mobile executive who is looking to distringuish herself in her company that specializes in corporate acquisitions. She lives a comfortable and corporate south Florida lifestyle.Lucy volunteers for an assignment to go evaluate on her company's holdings in Minnesota, specifically to assess it for downsizing.
As you might guess, a south Florida executive setting up shop in rural Northern Minnesota is a recipe for some laugbhs just based on the cultural shock alone, and the flick delivers these well, which is not as easy as you might think because, hell, we know what's coming.
The people of New Ulm, Minnesota seem different and a little strange to Lucy at first, even though her new secretary, Blanche (Siobahn Fallon Men In Black) is nothing if not unfailingly friendly. The same can't be said for the plant manager, Stu (J.K. Simmons Burn After Reading) who is upfront and open with his suspicions of Lucy and her true motives and ends up quickly on the top of her termination list. Also not in the Lucy Fan Club at the beginning is one of the more elgible bachelors in town, Ted (Harry Connick, Jr. Independence Day) who Blanche tries to hook up Lucy with from the beginning. Let's just say the sparks don't fly initially and two different worlds clash...which wouldn't be a big deal except for Ted is also the union rep. Lucy will have to "dialogue" with (when you see the flick, or if you have seen it, you'll know why I use quotes on that word).
Now, we all know Ted and Lucy are going to hook up, but the way they do is interesting and not too hokey. Most impressive for me, is that, while delievering up some real laughs, is that the all too real story of a small working class town whose main industry/employer is slowly but surely dying is woven into the story seamlessly and, to me, very effectively.
So, those of you who like to have your heart strings pulled and your tears jerked just might get what you want here, those of you who like to laugh will get multiples on that front, my personal favorite being Lucy not realizing why everyone at the dinner party is really wondering if her top is insufficient to keep her warm in the frigid Minnesota winter until she goes into the bathroom to freshen up a little...the premise is funny and well done and Lucy's attempts to "warm up" a little had me roaring.
The acting is well done, if the Minnesota accents were a little over done. Accurate, for those of us who have heard the tone, just a little bit over done. Zellweger is good, as usual and Connick showed me some depth and talent as an actor I didn't know he had, quite frankly. Simmons is in a familiar role as the irascible guy you kind of like nevertheless, but my vote for the outstanding performance goes to Fallon, whose performance as Blanche is just wonderful; delivering the comedic punch in limited dialogue but also great depth to the pathos of her character. I know comedic movies and the actors in them are persona non grata with the Academy in most years, but I would think Fallon should at least get consideration for a Best Supporting Actress nomination.
New In Town is going to give you what you expect, but what makes it one I'm going to say you should check out is that it also gives you a little more.
Directed by Gary Sinyor.Starring Chris O'Donnell, Renee Zellweger, Artie Lange, Hal Holbrook, Ed Asner, Jennifer Esposito, Brooke Shields. Romance/Comedy Synopsis: A young business heir who loves his girlfriend and bachelorhood has a monumental decision when his quirky grandfather leaves a will demanding he be married by his 30th birthday to inherit his millions at about the same time his true love has dumped him after a clumsily botched proposal. He doesn't have much time. 
