As an unashamed rom-com fan, I ignored the reviews and went to see Did You Hear About the Morgans? (horrible title!) on Friday – and let’s just say I had my fill of watered-down City Slickers jokes within the first half hour.
But moving on to the positives — for starters, Elisabeth Moss (our beloved Peggy from Mad Men) showed off a sleek modern style and a deliciously bitchy attitude as the assistant to Sarah Jessica Parker’s annoying character. And also, Hugh Grant was pretty lovable and had a few good lines that had me laughing two or three times. Sure he was playing the bumbling romantic British guy that we’ve seen him create over and over, but he was still good at it.
I can’t help but think Grant’s a good actor who’s been squandered in beneath-him material for the past few years. Anyone else agree?
I have three quick thoughts of what I’d like to see him try next:
1) Play the British love interest opposite – radical idea – a British woman. Not SJP, not Drew Barrymore, not Sandra Bullock, not Andie Macdowell. That way, his character’s accent and cute expressions and tea jokes aren’t enough to coast on, and we’ll have to see real chemistry between Grant and his leading lady. I know there’s an age difference, but I would die to see him playing opposite Emily Blunt in an acid-tongued comedy (romantic or otherwise).
2) Go darker again. Grant got some of his career’s best reviews as the self-obsessed Will in About a Boy. Okay, the film wasn’t pitch black, but he didn’t play that bumbling charming guy, he played a very flawed, egotistical, immature guy and he was great at it. Daniel in Bridget Jones’ Diary was more one-dimensional caddish, but even caddish is more interesting than foppish romantic.
3) Get some edgier material. I’d like to see him in something less frothy, say a George Clooney-esque political thriller or some kind of really well written indie film. I can see the Coens writing a great leading role for him — even a rom-com in their hands would be a winner for Grant.
What do you think, PopWatchers? I know there are plenty of other Hugh Grant fans out there who will go see Morgans this weekend – so let us know what you thought of the film, and our leading man’s performance, in the comments below. And sound off about what kind of project you’d like to see Hugh take on next!
Photo Credit: Barry Wetcher
Wendy, good comments – not just a typical review, but listing some positive suggestions that certainly intrigue me. I have enjoyed many Hugh Grant films but if they’re going to be fluff, I’d rather pop in SIRENS and watch a lot of beautiful naked women. I LIKE naked women – a lot of my favorite times have been with naked women. If Hugh’s handed “lesser material” (and I agree with that), I’d just as soon they fill the screen with beautiful naked women, strolling about. Or just send them to me, and I won’t have to waste time on Hugh at all.
Hugh’s done a thriller type but it wasn’t very good – I argue against his inability in that format – I just think it was a weak story, poorly done that no one could have succeeded. Get him a GOOD thriller – a THREE DAYS OF THE CONDOR quality – and he’d be fine.
Scott, can you clarify your stance on unclothed females? Thank you.
I agree with you that Hugh’s forays into thrillers have not been successful, but the scripts have not been great.
I am sooooo sick of those two, Hugh Grant and Sarah Parker. I really dont want to see them in any movies I believe their careers are over. Please let it be over!
He needs to play another gay character like he did in one of his very first films, “Maurice.”
Sorry, I’ve always hated Hugh Grant, always will. I wish he’d make a career change.
I’d argue that Love Actually was also a stand-out movie for Hugh Grant. But I definitely agree – although I love him, I’d like to see him in a movie where I feel like he isn’t just playing himself (ie: self-deprecating humo(u)r and sheepish grins).
Here’s to hoping. (:
Oooh, Yes, Love Actually was a good part for Grant and I couldn’t agree more with Wendy Mitchell. Of course, Grant will always remind me of another Grant, Cary. Audiences never liked his attempts for drama or playing a bad guy, so Hugh shouldn’t stray too far into dark teritory. Still, I think his age will do him well for a switch to edgier fares.
Grant also played serious in the thriller “Extreme Measures”. Also check out a small film he did years ago called Impromptu. He also had British love interests in “Love Actually” and “Sense and Sensibility”.
Wow, I know very few people who even know about Impromptu much less appreciate it so it’s great to see another fan of the film. I actually own Impromptu. Hugh and Judy Davis were so excellent…scenes and lines have stayed with me to this day.
Loved “Impromptu”! His character was Chopin!
Yes! He was great as Chopin, and there was great chemistry with Judy Davis!
Impromptu was the first film I saw Hugh Grant in — I fell in love with him then. I wish he would shake up his roles. He was great in Extreme Measures (I’m probably one of the few people who liked that movie).
I completely agree! Let’s see him do something interesting.
Sorry, ever since Craig Ferguson pointed out tha Grant acts by blinking, I can’t take Grant seriously as an actor.
Craig Ferguson, whom I really like most of the time, is dead wrong about Hugh Grant. He has definite mannerisms, to be sure, but so did most of the movie greats of the Golden Age — his gift is finding different ways to use one persona to create countless roles. His work in “Sense & Sensibility” and “About a Boy” is absolutely top-notch, and even in the lesser films he too often chooses, he always elevates the role. Also, Bridget, ever since I realized that you comment by parroting things other people said, I can’t take you seriously as a judge of acting.
And you would take Craig Ferguson’s appraisal of Hugh Grant’s acting abilities because…. Ferguson is a brilliant actor? Don’t think so. I like Craig Ferguson (funny on his late night TV show) but compared to Ferguson’s acting Grant should win an Oscar this year. I love Hugh Grant as predictable, loveable and adorable as he may be. I personally like Grant just the way he is and he should change for no one!
less frothy? how about, find a script that actually has HUMOR in it? or humour if you’re reading, hugh. i don’t mean to be cruel, but marc lawrence couldn’t write a comedy script if his life depended on it. music and lyrics? NOT funny. two weeks notice? preposterously not funny and another waste of hugh and sandra bullock. maybe he’s a nice guy and good to work with, but hugh you need to find a GOOD FUNNY SCRIPT. call me if you need some help.
Why does there have to be something wrong with what he’s doing? Millions of people pay to see his movies…
I will add that many stars have tried, unsuccessfully, to do something other than romantic comedies. Often theatre-goers just want what they’re used to. Example: Meg Ryan.
Wendy, enjoyed your approach and ideas. Thanks!
I LOVED him in About a Boy. I’ve also enjoyed him in every other movie. SJP is another story.
Short of the I ALWAYS HATE ___ comments, most of these sound like, “Poorly or terribly written” issues, and I always wonder – whose responsibility is this? The actor can only go so far, but didn’t HE select it in the first place? Or at least “his people” did, and unless we’ve got a Col Tom Parker Scenario, ultimately an actor’s selection process is his – he’s either abrogating his intelligence and allowing others to choose for him, or he’s merely happy taking money for crap. Hugh’s relatively long career says he’s done well enough for 27 years of this. It’s unfortunate that one of his most well-known episodes is getting arrested with an ugly hooker. Eliz Hurley at home, and he’s out with a skank? Jiminy. No wonder his so-called brain chooses some of these poorly written films.
Um. I barely remember that “episode” when he got caught with a prostitute. In fact, I’d go on to say that he’s done a good job of making most of the rest of the world forget about it.
Are you the same “Scott Caesar” as the one who posted the first comment? I ask only because you seem a lot more hostile toward Hugh Grant than that response.
Emily Blunt is a little young for Hugh Grant. I liked it when he romanced Emma Thompson in Sense and Sensibility and Judi Davis in Impromptu.
I do think that Hugh Grant plays variations on the same character too often – I’d like to see him stretch into a more dramatic role – but he’d need a good script.
I too loved him on Sense and Sensibility. Music and Lyrics is one of my guilty pleasures; I loved to hear him sing (and, yes, he was great in About a Boy). I agree that he needs to find a script that is actually funny or go very dark. He can definitely do it. However, he has stated that he is not very interested in acting anymore, so it feels like he’s not even trying to make a good movie these days. Maybe he should change agents? I hope he does!
Ahhh..Poor Hugh Grant, he makes millions of dollars, going interesting places, doing interesting things, with interesting people and for good or bad( what was her name” Divine Brown) we are still talking about him what 20 some odd years later? Yep, poor Hugh..
Wendy – the trailer for this movie and your review says it all. Hugh Grant was great in Impromptu and Four Weddings and a Funeral, but since this seems to be comfortable with collecting a paycheck for being the same character. It is rumored he complained about getting paid only a million vs. Julia Roberts millions in Notting Hill. Morale of the story is, you want to get paid more, you need to get out of your comfort zone and do something that brings in the movie viewers.
Wendy has some good ideas that I mostly agree with. But I’d add that I’d like it if he simply made more films. Lately he makes one every 2 or 3 years which is fine if they are carefully thought out works of art but if he’s going to make formula froth, at least work more often. I think it would do his career wonders if he’d in one same year work on a romcom and have a meaningful supporting role in a serious movie as well.