All-round stellar cast: Rachael McAdams, Diane Keaton, Harrison Ford, as well as Jeff Goldblum, Patrick Wilson & really fun to see onscreen again, John Pankow ("cousin Ira" on the 80s Helen Hunt/Paul Reiser hit comedy TV show "Mad About You".
Rachel McAdams is adorable & delightful in one of her cheekiest roles as the spirited & unsinkably optimistic Becky who has recently been let go due to budget cuts as Producer of a bare-bones A.M. Entertainment News program in New Jersey, which was her "stepping stone" to the major networks in New York City. This does not deter Becky who, in no time at all has an interview with a lesser-known, New York City A.M. Entertainment News Program. Jeff Goldblum plays the stressed-out Station Manager with a heart of gold; an executive struggling with a low budget, dispirited staff and a deadline to get things turned around quickly. Enter Becky with her winsome, plucky tenacity and incandescent, irresistible smile & she's hired as well as determined to succeed!!! Almost immediately she fires the Co-Anchor who is leeching any of the life out of the rest of the cast members & staff on the show. Now, all she needs do is fill the spot..and quickly! Diane Keaton is the competent former beauty queen remaining Co-Anchor, who has put in her time & doesn't foresee anything changing (as does the rest of the cast & crew), since they've all seen lesser Producers come & go. However, in her first move, Becky already has them all clapping & having feelings they haven't in a long time...hope!
Beckly is not only plucky, cheeky, cute & winsome, but also smart & impassioned! She finds that already on staff is a cantankerous curmudgeon of a former investigative news reporter who is waiting out time on his contract until he can leave, no longer being on any news program, played with excellent disdain by Harrison Ford, who reluctantly is pretty much forced into becoming Diane Keaton's Co-Anchor, which doesn't sit well with either of them...cue non-stop laughter! He pretty much refuses to go along with doing "entertainment" & persists in solely reading the news reports, until Diane Keaton finally erupts at him...on air!! At which point, viewership starts to increase & as that occurs, Becky becomes more & more creative with the show & is able to book better & more entertaining segments.
While Becky is succeeding in bringing ratings up, she's also creating an atmosphere of "family" among this "motley crew" of a staff, and trying to find some type of balance between career & a burgeoning love interest, played with handsome charm by Patrick Wilson. There is still the Harrison Ford Co-Anchor issue which Becky struggles with during private conversations with him, following Harrison Ford around & interrupting his private time, to try to get him onboard with the show, eventually endearing herself to him, too. It still doesn't turn him around, until he learns that Becky is being courted by "Good Morning America" & let's just say this culminates with a very cute, charming scene while Becky is involved in an interview with said morning news show, which will have you clapping!!
A disarming, exhilarating comedy that will leave you smiling an infectious Becky-smile! from beginning to end!!!!