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MOVIE REVIEW

Morning Glory

MPA Rating: PG-13-Rating (MPA) for some sexual content including dialogue, language and brief drug references.

Reviewed by: Laura Busch
CONTRIBUTOR

Moral Rating: Offensive
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience: Adults Teens
Genre: Comedy
Length: 1 hr. 35 min.
Year of Release: 2010
USA Release: November 10, 2010 (wide—2,350+ theaters)
DVD: March 8, 2011
Copyright, Paramount Picturesclick photos to ENLARGE Copyright, Paramount Pictures Copyright, Paramount Pictures Copyright, Paramount Pictures Copyright, Paramount Pictures Copyright, Paramount Pictures Copyright, Paramount Pictures Copyright, Paramount Pictures Copyright, Paramount Pictures
Relevant Issues
Copyright, Paramount Pictures
Sex outside marriage

Should I save sex for marriage? Answer

My boyfriend wants to have sex. I don’t want to lose him. What should I do? Answer

How can I deal with temptations? Answer

How far is too far? What are the guidelines for dating relationships? Answer

What are the consequences of sexual immorality? Answer

Fornication

Love

TRUE LOVE—What is true love and how do you know when you have found it? Answer

Sex, Love & Relationships
Learn how to make your love the best it can be. Discover biblical answers to questions about sex, marriage, sexual addictions, and more.
Featuring Rachel McAdams (Becky), Harrison Ford (Mike Pomeroy), Diane Keaton (Colleen Peck), Jeff Goldblum (Jerry Barnes), Patrick Wilson (Adam Bennett), See all »
Director Roger Michell
Producer Bad Robot, J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk, Sherryl Clark, Udi Nedivi, Lindsey Paulson, Guy Riedel
Distributor
Distributor: Paramount Pictures Corporation. Trademark logo.
Paramount Pictures Corporation
, a subsidiary of ViacomCBS

“Breakfast TV just got interesting”

“Morning Glory” humorously delves into the dysfunctional world of morning television news through the eyes of protagonist, Becky Fuller (Rachel McAdams), a hardworking young television producer, who gets fired from her job with a local news program. Becky is determined to find a new job and won’t let anything get her down, so when she lands a job as executive producer of “Daybreak,” the lowest rated morning program, she gladly takes on the challenge of saving the show. In her efforts to revitalize the languishing program, Becky brings on a new morning co-host, Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford), an award-winning news legend, who believes he is above the soft news stories about fashion, cooking, celebrity gossip, and weight loss that characterize morning news.

Becky not only has the burden of keeping “Daybreak” on the air and raising its plummeting ratings, but she also must deal with Mike Pomeroy’s arrogance and refusal to cover the soft news staples of morning television. Mike’s heated on and off-air verbal battles with his co-host, Colleen Peck (Diane Keaton), longtime morning show personality, only make Becky’s job more difficult. Becky’s work ethic and resolve not only turn “Daybreak’s” suffering ratings around, but she also betters the lives of her coworkers.

Positive Elements

Becky’s determination, commitment to hard work, and unyielding optimism are the most positive aspects of “Morning Glory.” These positive aspects of Becky’s character can be seen from the beginning of the film after she loses her job. She doesn’t let this set her back or cause her to give up on her dream of becoming a senior producer. Becky also gladly takes on the challenge of revitalizing “Daybreak,” and her positive attitude raises the morale of the entire news team. Rachel McAdams’ energetic performance carries the film well, and the humorous bickering between costars, Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton is very entertaining.

Objectionable Content

While Becky’s optimism and determination are refreshing, screenwriter, Aline Brosh McKenna’s (“The Devil Wears Prada” and “27 Dresses”), otherwise entertaining storyline is overshadowed by pervasive language and sexual content.

There are 2 uses of the f-word, 1 use of b---h, several uses of d—n, h—l, and a-- (13), numerous uses of the s-word (in one scene Becky uses this word repeatedly). Christ’s name is also profaned many times throughout the film (9), plus G-d (21). Other offensive dialogue includes mention of condoms, sleeping with other people, pap smears, Mike jokes that he could have had hookers, and other offensive dialogue pepper this film.

During the course of the film Becky meets Adam Bennett (Patrick Wilson), an attractive young producer at the network, and they begin to date. In several scenes, Becky and Adam kiss passionately at his apartment, and in those scenes Becky is seen in her underwear and a shirt, and Adam is seen lying shirtless in bed. It is implied several times that they slept together.

Even though “Morning Glory” has some redeeming aspects such as, Becky’s optimistic determination, the pervasive language and sexual content are offensive and superfluous elements of this film’s plot, which only take away from what could have been a very enjoyable chick flick.

Violence: Minor / Profanity: Heavy / Sex/Nudity: Heavy

See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.


Viewer CommentsSend your comments
Positive
Positive—Rachel McAdams is delightful and plausible as a young, talented and enthusiastic TV producer trying to salvage a lackluster morning show. The rest of the cast, alas, are depicted as caricatures. Neither Diane Keaton nor Harrison Ford can rescue the lame direction or script. All my attention was on Ms. McAdams and her good natured efforts. There were a few good moments and laughs thrown in. Slightly better than a neutral rating for me.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 3½
Halyna Barannik, age 64 (USA)
Positive—I thought this movie was ADORABLE! The plot was great and I love the main actresses role, she was very funny. It was very entertaining and actually really inspiring, and the filming was done really well. The ending is awesome, and I had chills watching it.

Sure, there is a scene where she starts to kiss her boyfriend, and its a very short scene, and, yes, they are not married, those I am not happy about it. So right when they kiss, shut your eyes or cover your kids eyes, because she is in her underwear within seconds. Unfortunately, there are very few movies these days that some kind of reference like that is going on, so I just shut my eyes during those parts or fast forward, if it’s a DVD.

Overall, it was an awesome movie. You will really like it. I am glad I went!
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
Samantha Taylor, age 36 (USA)
Positive—Pertaining to the neutral comment below, there was hardly any cursing in it, and I do NOT like movies with a lot of cursing, and the only people even mentioned “sleeping around” are the main character and her boyfriend, and its hardly even talked about. I am strict about movies I watch, and this one was a great one!
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
Stephanie Smith, age 36 (USA)
Positive—I thoroughly enjoyed this movie! I got a lot of laughs out of it. Watching Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford exchange insults was hilarious, and I usually don’t like Rachel McAdams, but I found her to be much more likeable in this film. I thought it was a little smarter than the average chick flick, and I would recommend it to mature mother/daughters who aren’t bothered by some sexual content and references.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Average / Moviemaking quality: 5
Melanie Meyer, age 18 (USA)
Neutral
Neutral—I was wanting to like this movie. The story is cute, but between the sleeping around and cursing, I can’t really recommend it to anyone. Wait for this to be on TV with cleanup up language, if you want to see it. They must have used every curse word except JC. So, besides from being predictable, the bad language was a big turn off.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 3
Annso, age 38 (USA)
Negative
Negative—I am very surprised at the positive comments which is why I am leaving a negative review to balance out what is actually a pretty awful movie… and I am not panning it totally for its lack of moral values either. The script is inane, predictable and just plain dumb. The characters are inconsistent and not very likeable. Even Rachel McAdam’s perky but eventually annoying and irritating portrayal cannot rescue this movie from the doldrums.

The premise had promise but the movie just couldn’t deliver… an astounding fact considering the stars and producer who allowed their names to be attached to such foolish drivel.

Morally the movie has the same issues you now see in many PG-13 movies… questionable and loose behavior, gutter language and a lack of positive role models. I am a big fan of romantic comedies but this one is best left in obscurity. Save yourself the anguish and skip it.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Very Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 3
Pam, age 56 (USA)
Negative—I’ll put it for you simply. This movie has a wonderful story line and some great actors. I loved the movie. I’m putting negative though because of the severe language. Hollywood loves ruining perfectly great movies. There was absolutely no reason for the language. I can handle a few words here and there, but not when it is obsessive and breaks the 3rd commandment repeatedly by taking God’s name in vain. No movie is worth that.
My Ratings: Moral rating: Very Offensive / Moviemaking quality: 4
Elisabeth, age 35 (USA)