I don't understand the low star count (6.1 as of this review). This is a good movie with a good story, good acting, nice people, and what should have been a breakthrough performance for Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Talia, who lit up the screen with her charisma and effervescent smile. (Maybe it was. She's been busy since this movie.) Tom Hanks, Wilmer Valderrama, Bryan Cranston, Rita Wilson, and Julia Roberts are all excellent too. If you want murder, explosions, criminals, and cruelty look elsewhere. If you want a pleasant, fun, enjoyable movie with likable characters with redeeming qualities with whom you can identify and for whom you can root, this is it.

Should be called the Awakening of Larry Crowne.When i got made redundant i was 48 years old been working for several years as an engineer buyer. I decided to go back to college in the UK, and I actually learnt all about Microsoft to a high level, and became a teacher in further education as I passed all my exams for that. So this movie and me had something in common. Larry looses his job, and goes back to college. Sounds exciting NOT which is a shame as there is so much more about this movie. Friendship made, love, awakening, being part of a team, pushing oneself, and not being scared to try new things. This film had a brilliant cast not only Tom Hanks, and Julia Roberts, but Grace Gummer, Dean Tainot, George Takai , Taraji P. Henson, and others. Directed by Tom Hanks who did a great job. I LOVED IT. It hooked me from the beginning to the end, i wanted more. A gentle love story, with comedy, a good story line and nicely paced and so good not to be exposed to raunchy sex scenes which seem to be the norm now as though people have to watch constant sex scenes to enjoy a movie. WRONG there are still a lot of us, who just want to enjoy a little romance that leaves us feeling good. The 98 minutes flew by, and i will certainly put this one on my repeat list. If you just want to enjoy good actors in a light comedy romance then you cant go wrong with this. Try it, you wont be disappointed.

Harmless comedy containing some humorous bits. I give it a "7" and am not panning it, but I might if I had not seen it last night on Netflix five years after its 2011 release. Frankly, we're today so "overly-movied" and thus to get an "A" it would take same talented actors and a "greatness element," whatever that magically means. I shall not bash as a "lame movie," but I didn't pay that usual $8--$12. So enjoy it on internet, because it's a triple but not a grand slam, while having plenty of moments. Obviously I'm not a professional critic, but try to find a Rex Reed hit piece, if he still does movie autopsies too, hint: an ancient if not elderly NY OBSERVER critic whom currently skewers the Broadway play WAITRESS. I feel bad for that play he reviews yesterday, even though I never go to plays myself, the probably last being circa 2003, not worth the $50 (whatever).

Larry Crowne is Tom Hank's second film as a director. It's a feel good film with a big heart from its lead man. Financial cuts force Larry (Hanks) into losing his job. This hot topic is brushed aside as Larry stays positive by attending college. He meets some weird and wonderful people, including a young, free spirit who changes everything in Larry's life; his hair style, his fashion sense, even the layout of his living room. Larry's on a journey to reinvent himself. He gets a new job, stays focused in college and has a thing for the teacher (Julia Roberts). Julia Robert's relationship with her husband is nearing its end and never quite fits in with the rest of the film. Ultimately not much happens. The movie never escalates, only simmers. If it weren't for Hanks and Robert's ability to act out greatness from a weak script, Larry Crowne would be worse off. By the time it hits its happy, sure-fire ending all involved will be wondering what Larry Crowne's point was.