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Back Shelf Beauties
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Rumor Has It ... On the surface, Rumor Has It … has many of the elements I look for in a movie. I am a fan of director Rob Reiner. I am a supporter of stars Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner and Shirley MacLaine. The Graduate is one of my all time favorite movies. You put all of this together, and Rumor Has It …should be the movie of the year for me. Instead, it's an entertaining film that could use a few tweaks. Set in 1997 (because the ages of the actors all work out better if you shave 8 years off, not because they want to do some fun 1997 jokes, which would have been smart and cool and entertaining) Jennifer Aniston (without the Rachel hair cut, which would have been funny and fit with the jokey 1997 non-theme) stars as a New York journalist, Sarah, heading to her sister's, Annie (Mena Suvari), wedding back home in Pasadena with her boyfriend, Jeff (Mark Ruffalo), who just proposed. Sarah should be happy and on top of the world since Jeff is a great guy, but she's questioning her whole life, career and what the future might hold with her new fiancée (sound familiar?). While in town, she starts to think about her mother, some circumstances from life, and pieces of the whole story that closely resemble the movie and book, The Graduate - which, according to local legend, was written about someone her mother's and grandmother's, Katherine (Shirley MacLaine), ages. After a few more revelations, Sarah is convinced The Graduate is based on their lives, and she is off to find the real Benjamin Braddock - her mom's old flame, Beau Burroughs (Kevin Costner). Has Sarah solved the mystery behind The Graduate? Was Katherine Mrs. Robinson? Rumor Has It … is a funny movie, and one worth seeing, but it could have made the Graduate mystery and premise more central to the movie. Director Rob Reiner and writer Ted Griffin solve the mystery about half way through, which leaves us with an additional 45 minutes of Sarah's angst, an all too familiar movie plot, which isn't as entertaining. Everyone involved could have stretched out the mystery and had much more fun with the premise if they had the courage. Sadly, the reason most people are coming to the movie (nostalgia over The Graduate and seeing how this movie ties to that one) might be seen as attracting an audience that is too old or doesn't go to the movies. However, The Graduate theme is the unique element this movie has compared to others, so they should go with it. I wanted more Graduate jokes. Reiner and Griffin give us a few, but I think they could have gone all the way. How come no one in the movie works in plastics? How about seeing the infamous house where it might have all happened? The church? How about spending a couple of dollars and hiring Simon and Garfunkel for a cameo as the wedding reception band? Instead, we get another story about Sarah, her relationship with Jeff and what happens when she meets Beau, which could be any other movie. Even if you want more Graduate jokes, Costner, Aniston and MacLaine make it all work as best as they can. MacLaine steals the movie with the best and most outrageous lines delivered like a pro, and creates a character you will be quoting long after the film ends. She becomes the brassy character with ease, and makes us laugh at her crazy antics and off-color humor. Anniston is fine in a familiar role, and Costner delivers another easygoing, natural performance that allows him to show his true charm. Rumor Has It … can be better, but what you get isn't all that bad. 2 ½ Waffles (Out Of 4) Copyright 2005 - WaffleMovies.com
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