miami to minnesota

i dont know whether its been rom com fatigue or just a craving for something fresh but the latest chick flick to hit theatres which has been universally panned it seems, isnt all that bad.

NEW IN TOWN is predictable, formulaic, loses steam in the second half and tends to completely follow and pander to audience expectations... but its still a fun, light hearted, feel good watch. (and hey who doesnt want to feel good finally?)

in the first five minutes, things dont look all that exciting, upbeat music, opening titles, ur typical, formula chick-flick fare, but cut to a dining table of women in MINNESOTA doing arts and crafts and u sit up and say ok, whats this. And when SIOBHAN FALLON HOGAN perks up, "HARVE WILL YOU GET THE DOOR", you cant take your eyes off her and think this one has promise. which it does. and which it, personally delivered on.

ZELLWEGER is understated and real, as is CONNICK JR. I felt a natural and real chemistry between them...as actors and an onscreen couple. no melodrama, sentimentality or cheesiness. the humour in their scenes , which could have become vulgar n silly in the hands of other actors, stays shy of that

alot of that has also to do with a GREAT supporting cast be it HOGAN (who is hilarious, even if she is taking of on FRANCIS MCDORMANDS MARGE from FARGO) or JK SIMMONS (unrecognizable from his role as father in JUNO as the drawling factory head who's more concerned with shooting birds, drinking beer, and exclaiming desparingly to his co workers, who called the 'boss lady'?)

the films general themes of good ol fashioned american values of friendship and community, diligence and dignity of labour couldve slipped again into cheesiness but the writing manages to avoid that trap with some local flavour and comic touches in the dialogues- twitterpatted, tapioca, scrapper and patootie.. brush up on some midwest vocab people!

sure things get repetitive in the second half and the story couldve had way more punch, but its NOT as bad as they say... grab some popcorn, sit back, unwind. u might be surprised.

until a REALLY good rom com comes along.... ;)

Ira