Larry Crowne (2011)

All Critics (189) | Top Critics (44) | Fresh (65) | Rotten (123) | DVD (3)

An exceedingly minor entry on already impressive resumés.

October 7, 2011 Full Review

Leah Rozen

The Wrap

Top Critic

To pluck romantic comedy from the jaws of a social crisis is a laudable project, worthy of Preston Sturges, and it's a pity that this featherlight drama-written by Tom Hanks and Nia Vardalos, and directed by Hanks himself-should falter in its task.

July 18, 2011 Full Review | Comment (1)

Anthony Lane

New Yorker

Top Critic

Larry Crowne is more than a missed opportunity. It's alarmingly, depressingly out of touch.

July 7, 2011 Full Review | Comments (3)

Peter Travers

Rolling Stone

Top Critic

Even if you wander into this congealed mess with nothing more demanding in mind than to spend a little time with two charming favorites, do not expect Forrest Gump or Pretty Woman.

July 6, 2011 Full Review

Rex Reed

New York Observer

Top Critic

Neither fish nor fowl, Larry Crowne skitters between pathos and shtick, wasting abundant acting talent as it goes.

July 5, 2011 Full Review

Ella Taylor

NPR

Top Critic

When it comes to unemployment-themed cinema, I'll take the greater realism of last year's The Company Men or this year's Everything Must Go over Hanks's too rosy vision of life after the pink slip.

July 5, 2011 Full Review

Mary F. Pols

TIME Magazine

Top Critic

Larry Crowne is nothing we haven't seen before and at times feels over-done and cliched.

March 2, 2013 Full Review

Amy Curtis

We Got This Covered

Extremely modest, featherweight. But watchable.

January 1, 2013 Full Review

Roger Moore

McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Could have been a solid, straightforward rom com coasting on likable leads; half-hearted additions trying to link the movie to economic crisis just detract.

December 5, 2011

Martin Scribbs

Low IQ Canadian

... lacks any sense of gravity. Hanks has too much moxie to let little things like unemployment and an underwater mortgage get him down...

November 16, 2011 Full Review

Sean Axmaker

MSN.com

Only hints at the comedy and poignancy that its two powerhouse leads could deliver if given better material.

October 20, 2011 Full Review

Bruce Bennett

Spectrum (St. George, Utah)

Even Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts can't sell this lightweight rom-com fantasy.

September 8, 2011 Full Review

Neil Pond

American Profile

Tasty around the edges but disappointing in the center, Larry Crowne will meet the summer rom-com needs of many, but will not serve as a memorable addition to Hanks' legacy.

September 2, 2011 Full Review

Frederica Mathewes-Green

Christianity Today

Low-key charmer saved by star power

August 7, 2011 Full Review

Adam Bub

MovieFIX

It felt like I was being smothered with "feel good" moments. Everything about the story and its characters is too far detached from reality.

July 25, 2011 Full Review

Matthew Toomey

ABC Radio Brisbane

full of a counter-intuitive sunny optimism that is at odds with the tale itself

July 19, 2011 Full Review

Andrea Chase

Killer Movie Reviews

Larry Crowne, Hanks' second effort behind the camera, makes It's a Wonderful Life look like Enter the Void. It's a cute movie that never meant to hurt no one, and that's the best thing I can say about it.

July 18, 2011 Full Review

Simon Miraudo

Quickflix

I can't begin to tell you how bland this movie is.

July 18, 2011 Full Review | Comments (3)

Linda Cook

KWQC-TV (Iowa)

There are some endearing scenes and some fun moments, but the screenplay doesn't feel developed; we are never really engaged

July 15, 2011 Full Review

Andrew L. Urban

Urban Cinefile

An immensely likeable film, this uplifting rom com about turning life around has a whole lot of things going for it

July 15, 2011 Full Review | Comments (3)

Louise Keller

Urban Cinefile

As well-meaning as it is, (it) is a two-dimensional bit of fluff, an untidy string of cutesy scenes and cutesy characters -- few of them as cute as they are intended to be.

July 14, 2011 Full Review

Mike Scott

Times-Picayune

With little to distract us from its half-hearted plotting and flimsy characterizations, Larry Crowne quickly turns into an abject failure, propped up only by its fading stars' fading charisma.

July 12, 2011 Full Review

Jeremy Heilman

MovieMartyr.com

...it's an old-fashioned star vehicle, fashioned for the particular screen personas of Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts by Hanks himself, who directed the film and wrote the screenplay with Nia Vardalos. You may recall that he produced her breakthrough film...

July 8, 2011 Full Review

Leonard Maltin

indieWIRE

An ode to the common man.

July 8, 2011 Full Review

Charles Koplinski

Illinois Times

• 1. Mercedes Tainot: We're going so slow, a cat could knock us over. You know that, right?
  – Submitted by Sami D (10 months ago)
• 1. Dr. Matsutani: They call them smart phones, but only dummies use them in my class.
  – Submitted by Jonathan L (23 months ago)
• 1. Talia: A man with a scooter can accomplish anything.
  – Submitted by Drew F (23 months ago)
• 1. Larry Crowne: It's got power!
  – Submitted by Chris P (2 years ago)
• 1. Larry Crowne: I was downsized. I'm here to make sure that never happens again.
  – Submitted by Chris P (2 years ago)

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