Morning Glory - a burst of inspiration
We get invited to many film screenings - some relevant to Womenworking.com, others not so much - but Morning Glory is a movie that epitomizes today’s working woman trying to manage a challenging career.
Rachel McAdams plays Jersey girl Becky Fuller, who has been let go from her producer job at a local station. Becky eventually gets her big break when New York’s 4th ranked morning show "Day Break" hires her. She makes a quick jump over to NYC, and soon we see her rushing unrealistically to work wearing Christian Louboutin pumps.
Hard-working Becky reunites with Family Stone co-star Diane Keaton who gives her an icy welcome: "You will fail like everyone else," she says, referring to the 14 producers before her. During the first morning meeting, it looks like Becky’s about to choke, but she makes a verbal comeback, firing the male anchor for bringing morale down. Now we know she isn't just any ordinary producer, and Becky earns instant respect from the staff.
Jeff Goldblum plays a great boss and gives Becky the impossible: "Whatever it takes, just get the ratings up". So Becky negotiates her way through the nitty gritty of a backstage studio, charming us with her adorably clumsy ways, and eventually landing the affections of Yale-educated boy upstairs Patrick Wilson. She even predictably topples Harrison Ford's tough news-focused character, who refuses to say the word "fluffy" on-air.
When the show is under threat of being canceled, Becky makes drastic changes, which comicly lead to Diane Keaton's character rapping with 50 Cent; meanwhile weatherman Ernie takes the grunt of the youth spectacle with one segment getting over 80,000 hits on YouTube.
There’s too much of Becky running around NYC in heels, and the post-coital walk across the bridge is all very Devil Wears Prada-esque, but Morning Glory, which opens nationwide tomorrow, is pure entertainment that left me feeling totally inspired. I thought about it during my entire run, er, walk home in flats.
-Lilly LeClair, Editor
To read our review from The Social Network, click here!