Review: Did You Hear About The Morgans?

This movie’s title begs for trouble. Because at the end of some unnerving 90 minutes, we wish we hadn’t ever heard of the Morgans of Manhattan. They are such a tiresome couple, devoid of empathy, an insult to the concept of a romcom. Read on for full review.

Review:Did You Hear About The Morgans?

Cast: Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker

Direction: Marc Lawrence

Rating: ** 1/2

HT Image

This movie’s title begs for trouble. Because at the end of some unnerving 90 minutes, we wish we hadn’t ever heard of the Morgans of Manhattan. They are such a tiresome couple, devoid of empathy, an insult to the concept of a romcom.

They are Manhattan chic, saddled with situations which can only happen to an assembly-line, unimaginatively-scripted couple. Contrivance is the key word. She’s a hotshot realty estate professional. He, well um, is philandering (what else?) and there’s been no Morgan Jr. for them to sort out their ho-haw-hum differences.

Instead, they witness a murder. Ouch. The plot takes a radically silly turn as the couple (Grant-Jessica Parker) is packed off to the semi-wild-west under a ‘witness protection programme’. They reach clichéd Marlboro country. Lodged at the home of the chief lawman (Sam Elliott) of Wyoming, the bickering two-some also have to come to terms with the sheriff’s gun-loving wife (good ole Mary Steenburgen).

Moreover, the Mad ’Hattan couple must deal with an encounter with a menacing bear, grimace through the chore of milking a cow, and finally divulge true confessions at a rodeo dance. Oh brother. Expectedly, the Manhattan killer has been stalking them, but please you don’t want to know the kind of twists and turns that accumulate in the plot to make for a finale that can be only politely described as predictable.

If we are not absolutely dismissive about the times and travails of the Morgans, it’s because of the stray giggle that the couple induce, or the clever sight gag like a diner in the hick-town apologizing, “Sorry, we are open”. In addition, Steenburgen is always a pleasure to watch. Jessica Parker (of Sex and the City flash fame) is competent, but surprisingly Hugh Grant isn’t explaining the lack of chemistry between the eponymous couple.

Technically, the product has sufficient polish, accounting for a strictly average product. See only if there’s no alternative.