Larry Crowne (2011)
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A middle-aged man who loses his job due to a lack of education decides to enroll in community college to find a better way to live.
The story
Larry Crowne, a middle-aged Navy veteran, is fired from his job at a big-box store because he lacks a college education. Divorced and facing the loss of his home, he follows his neighbor's advice to enroll at East Valley Community College. Subsisting on unemployment benefits, Larry buys a scooter and joins a colorful community of students. He struggles in his speech class but excels in economics. While navigating his new academic life, he balances his studies with a new job at a diner and begins to discover a different path for his future.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Larry Crowne, a middle-aged Navy veteran, is fired from a big-box store for lacking a college education. Facing foreclosure, he enrolls at East Valley Community College. He buys a scooter and joins a student community, where he is nicknamed "Lance Corona." While struggling in speech class taught by Mercedes Tainot, he excels in economics taught by Dr. Ed Matsutani. Larry eventually meets Mercedes, who is unhappily married to a blogger named Dean. After a night out where Larry gives Mercedes a ride and witnesses Dean's arrest, they share a passionate moment. Larry later uses his economics knowledge to strategically handle his house foreclosure. Mercedes, believing Larry is involved with his friend Talia, remains unaware of their night together. During finals, Larry gives a speech about his Navy travels that incorporates all his classmates' topics, earning an A+ from Mercedes. After the term ends, Mercedes finds her passion for teaching again. Larry eventually moves to a new apartment above Talia's thrift store. Mercedes visits him there, and they share a kiss.
- First release year
- 2011
- Runtime (minutes)
- 99
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Tom Hanks
- Writers
- Tom Hanks · writer; Nia Vardalos · writer
- Cast and characters
- Tom Hanks · Larry Crowne; Julia Roberts; Bryan Cranston; Cedric the Entertainer; Taraji P. Henson; Gugu Mbatha-Raw; Wilmer Valderrama; Pam Grier
- Genres
- romantic comedy; comedy
- Themes
- Education; Career Change; Middle-age; Second Chances
- Tone and mood
- Relaxed; Conventional
- Premise and plot tags
- College Life; Job Loss; Romance; Navy Veteran
- Source material / true-story basis
- Inspired by Tom Hanks' time studying at Chabot College and the life of Jim Chandler.
- Reception
- The film received mixed reviews from critics, with some describing it as bland and conventional despite the chemistry of its lead stars. It was considered a box office disappointment.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 36% · review count: 194; Metacritic · score: 41 · scale: 100 · review count: 41; CinemaScore · score: B · scale: A+ to F
- Production trivia
- The film was first announced as Talk of the Town in February 2006.; The studio reported that 71% of the audience was over 50 years old.; The independent firm CinemaScore said its exit polling showed that 93% of the audience was over 25 years old.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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