Morning Glory

After losing her job at a New Jersey morning show because of budget cuts, determined wannabe television producer Becky Fuller (Rachel McAdams) is given the chance to raise Manhattan-based Daybreak from the ratings gutter by a skeptical IBS executive (Jeff Goldblum). Daybreak is hosted by telegenic veteran Colleen Peck (Diane Keaton) and obnoxiously smarmy Paul McVee (Ty Burrell), whom Becky promptly fires, endearing her to the beleaguered staff and earning the admiration of news-hour hunk Adam Bennett (Patrick Wilson). Searching for a replacement host, Becky discovers a loophole in the contract of recently dismissed venerable anchorman Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford), requiring him to accept an IBS job—if offered—in order to continue collecting the balance of his multi-million salary. Pompous, cynical, Dan Rather-esque Pomeroy is obviously disgruntled, refusing to report soft-news stories or indulge in babbling banter with his contentious co-host; so Becky must use all her irrepressible energy and ingenuity to make the show succeed. Directed by Roger Michell, Morning Glory is a formulaic romantic comedy that finds McAdams engagingly endearing, while Ford does crusty, cranky arrogance superbly, leading to solid and refreshingly platonic screwball chemistry. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Roger Michell and writer Aline Brosh McKenna, and a brief deleted scene. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a winning comedy.] (S. Granger)