'Larry Crowne' a fresh take on love rekindled

I have actually taught an introductory class in speech communications at Eastern Illinois University, and that is how I know Tom Hanks’ new romantic comedy "Larry Crowne" nails the essence of that experience.

"Larry Crowne" tells the story of a downsized, middle-aged big-box store manager who sees education as the key to his future.

★ ★ ★ ½

Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Cedric the Entertainer, Pam Grier, Taraji P. Henson, Bryan Cranston

Tom Hanks

A Universal Pictures release. Rated PG-13 for language and sexual situations. 98 minutes.

So he enrolls in classes at East Valley Community College: one in economics taught by the scariest teacher in higher education (erstwhile Mr. Sulu, George Takei; the other in informal speech taught by a disillusioned woman (Julia Roberts trapped in a terrible marriage.

Hanks, who directed and co-wrote this screenplay with Nia "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" Vardalos, stars as the titular character, Larry Crowne.

He spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy as a cook and never attended college. So, his employer U-Mart cuts him loose because it regards him as a less desirable worker.

"Larry Crowne" has many facets to its story.

It offers a reassuring, fresh take on the reinventing-yourself-after-being-laid-off story.

It addresses finding romance on life’s rebound with a maturity and sincerity we seldom see in Hollywood rom-coms.

It shows the craziness and optimism students bring to the college experience, and how teachers — flawed, but good teachers — can change lives in small and dramatic ways.

And, "Larry Crowne" bears the signature low-key comic style of director Hanks, who finally follows up his delightful directing debut "That Thing You Do" with a surprising movie all about how surprising people can be … if you’re paying attention.

Larry must deal with a huge life transition, not just in his job, but in everything. He bought out his wife’s half of the house after their divorce.

Then came the economic plunge that made his house worth less than what Larry owes on it. He tries to sell what household items he can.

Good thing his neighbor Lamar (Cedric the Entertainer has become the king of suburban garage sales. He and his wife (Taraji P. Henson really like Larry, and that comes through in Lamar’s attempts to hustle insane prices for his junk.

Larry takes a job as a short-order cook in a restaurant run by an old Navy buddy. Then Larry gets to speech class where he meets Roberts’ Mercedes Taniot (Tay-no.

She drinks too much and doesn’t like her students, her job, herself or her husband ("Breaking Bad" star Bryan Cranston, a failed writer and an ugly human being.

We can guess that Larry and Mercedes will eventually come together romantically, and they do, but in a bold, honest way we don’t expect, because the characters don’t expect it, either.

Hanks ranks as one of the most democratic filmmakers, like Robert Altman, in that he regards peripheral characters to be as important as the main ones.

The ultra-cute co-ed Talia (Gugu Mbatha-Raw takes an instant liking to her middle-aged classmate and adopts him as her own personal makeover project, over the grumbled protests of her not-as-tough-as-he-looks, leather-clad boyfriend.

"What do men find so attractive about irritating free spirits?" Mercedes wonders when she sees Larry with Talia.

Pam Grier plays Frances, Mercedes’ fellow teacher and confidant.

Then we have the nine other speech students who struggle to overcome their fears and learn to speak in public comfortably.

The most amusing is Steve Dibiasi (Rami Malek, whose ditsy take on the lovable class dummy transcends the cliché.

If you watch "Larry Crowne," do yourself a favor. Near the end, when Mercedes enters Larry dinner for the first time, leave the theater the moment the exchange of glances.

This is the perfect end to "Larry Crowne." It's subtle and you know how things are going to leave.

But, Hanks made a total blunder including an extra scene, superfluous stealing his final film in a cool, smart.

Nearly ruined his Crowne-ing time.

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