Predictable ending

A LONG time ago, in a galaxy far, far way, Harrison Ford was cool right? I mean, he was Han Solo ... and Indiana Jones, surely he has the ability to make any film awesome?

Erm, no actually! I don't care how cool he is (or more accurately, was), it's still not enough to save this film from a critical panning.

Although the movie is marketed as a comedy, I thought that the laughs were far and few between and the ending was so predictable it led me to believe that Ford has lost his touch for picking great scripts.

Since I work in the media, I generally enjoy films related to my craft because I can empathise with the joys and pressures of the job. Yet, for some reason, I just couldn't get my head around this one. Admittedly, this movie revolves around broadcast journalism, something I avoided doing because I have more of a face for radio, but similar journalistic problems (the quest for readers/viewers) are encountered.

The movie follows the life of young woman called Becky, a strong and assertive type, who is the producer of a morning TV show. However, her life gets turned upside down when she is suddenly fired from her cushy number and must now find employment as soon as possible.

It's a situation that most people can relate to, the desperate race to find a job, any job, just so you can pay the bills and put petrol in your car. So, the hard-working Becky gets herself an interview with a guy called Jerry ... who is also in a bit of a pickle. He needs to find a producer for his struggling morning TV show and he believes she's the right woman for the job.

However, this proves no easy task for workaholic Becky who, after firing the show's sexist co-host, (a character who was mildly amusing at best) must now find a replacement for him. So, the 'fun' begins when she encounters Mike, a rampantly obnoxious, highly egocentric, cantankerous old news reporter who is her only chance to make the show work. But, wouldn't you just know it; he has no interest in the job!

Being the complete ball-breaker that she is, Becky wears him down until he concedes and reluctantly takes the job. Although Mike is a good journalist, he has become disillusioned with his profession and so he refuses to take the show seriously and makes life a living hell for his new producer. Ford does a passable job as a difficult character because although it would be easy to go over the top with the role, he manages to keep things relatively believable.

To make matters worse, Becky has also fallen for her dashing co-producer Adam although, (and I am in no way spoiling the suspense) we all know he's not the one she winds up with.

I've been know to hyperbolise in the past, but, just for fun, I have composed a list of things which are less predictable than the ending of this movie: Sunrise and sunset, moths flying into a light bulb, a crying baby, and my personal favourite, hot summers in Bahrain!

To be fair, a few light-hearted laughs come from Keaton as the show's co-host, most memorably, her kissing a frog ... although even that isn't as funny as it sounds. Keaton plays her role with an easygoing manor that fits the script well and she works firmly with Ford as a double act.

The best thing going for this film, besides the gorgeous Rachel McAdams, is that it's an ideal date movie ... mildly amusing with a warm gooey centre. It is by no means great but it's not the worst thing to happen to the world since Justin Bieber.

Showing in Cineco, Seef II and Saar Cineplex