New in Town Movie Review

http://www.mannythemovieguy.com

The wintry New Ulm, Minnesota is the setting of the film New in Town. But this supposed warm romantic comedy left me cold like its arctic backdrop.

Renee Zelwegger stars as Lucy Hill, an ambitious female executive based in Miami. Shes trying desperately to climb the corporate ladder so when the opportunity arrives for her to ascend, she gladly takes it.

But that opportunity will make Lucy move from the warm Miami to the blistery cold New Ulm. Whats a tropical girl to do?

Written by Kenneth Rance and C. Jay Cox, the script is so steeped with Minnesota clichés that I felt bad for its inhabitants. All the residents talk like Frances McDormands character, Marge Gunderson, in Fargo.

Incidentally, Lucys assistant in the film is named Blanche Gunderson (Siobhan Fallon Hogan). Is this the filmmakers homage to the far better Fargo?

In New Ulm, Lucy must learn to work with the employees of her company, Munck Foods. Theres the foreman Stu Kopenhafer (the underused J.K. Simmons) and the union representative Ted Mitchell (Harry Connick Jr.).

It doesnt take a rocket scientist to predict that Lucy will fall in love with Ted, the town, and the residents. But the journey from the start to the end of the film is not without its merits.

I adore Zelwegger as an actress. Her charisma and comedic timing shine through most parts of New in Town. My two favorite funny scenes with her involve some tricky incidents about genitalia that they would have been hard to pull off with a lesser actress.

The subplot about the future of Munck employes is also the highlight of the film. When the whole community gathers together, the movie acquires its much needed spark.

Directed by Danish-born Jonas Elmer, New in Town is very uneven. The first part of the film is awkward and feels pushed, while the middle gathers steam and as a viewer, youll see a flicker of hope. But then comes the crushing blow in the end where the filmmakers apparently rushed the last 20 minutes just to get us out of the theaters.

Its a shame because the film has commendable supporting actors such as Simmons, Hogan, and Connick Jr. But for a movie being marketed as a romantic comedy, youll get more attached to the survival stories of the New Ulm residents than the humdrum romance between Lucy and Ted.

For a romantic film to work the leads must have chemistry, otherwise theres no romance. Honestly, I didnt, for a second, buy the relationship of Lucy and Ted.

I did buy Lucys relationship with the town folks and her friendship with Blanche. Hogan embodies her character so well that she effortlessly blends in with the town and its eccentricities.

And the movie has an odd way of making you appreciate the colder New Ulm than sunny Miami. Was I won over by the communitys warmhearted spirit? You betcha! And for that, New in Town gets 2 old story kisses

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• manny
• movie
• guy
• new
• in
• town
• review
• renee
• zelwegger
• harry
• connick
• jr
• romantic
• comedy
• ulm
• minnesota
• snow
• cold

[horcruxz]

Lol, have you ever gave out 0/5 on a movie before?

[mdelar]

Yes...on my radio show...I talk about more films out, I'm limited time-wise on TV...but I've given 0 on Lady in the Water, Meet Dave :)

[horcruxz]

Lol @ lady in the water. After that film/the village/the happening, i came to a conclusion that m night shyamalan scams people with his films. where does he even get the cash to continue making his horrible films?

[mdelar]

I know...but his next film...The Last Airbender seems promising...it's based on a cartoon...so we'll see...not quite giving up on him....yet....

[Bailurt]

I love it where the daughter walks in from being at the dance and her dad like throws the remote on the table

[VTMCompany]

renee's face didn't respond well to COLD...it's swolen and it appears she doesn't wear makeup.

i've never seen her look so ugly, save for that western...was it appaloosa?

[Ampersandra]

Hair commentary: You see the girl's hair at 2:10? It's considered ugly in the movie until the curl is pulled out & she's given hat hair with flat wings. Renee Z's hairstyle is considered the epitome of chic, but it makes her hair look thin & her face look fat. You can see veins in her arms at least up to her elbows, so she's not fat; it's the hairdo that makes her look that way. Flat hair looks good on 3 people, & one of them is Malibu Barbie. The filmmakers should have picked something else.

[123chin123]

haha i liked this part:

soo have you found jesus yet?

renee rplied: I didnt know he was lost :P

[guidingstar90]

Oh yeah...I love her shoes tooooo :Dthis movie is the not the best one..but at least made me smile..thats all we want from the movie???? "entertainment"

[BeebeeMory]

i love her shoes ...are absolutely fabulous!!!:X:X:X

[tjos86]

i actually liked lady in the water. it may not be the best film, but i did enjoy it quite much. hehe