The trailer for Tom Hanks's latest directorial effort Larry Crowne has emerged, featuring the actor as a nice, average guy thrust into midlife uncertainty by a job layoff, scooter purchase, and new young friends made in a community college class taught by a sexy, jaded woman with whom he eventually falls in love. What? It could happen.
And do you know why it could happen? Because the introductory strains of "Hey, Soul Sister" are nothing if not a slice-of-life portent by which all our existences are now perceived, filtered, digested and depicted. Everything must go through Train -- the music industry recognizes this, the international filmmaking community recognizes this, and now even Tom Hanks recognizes this. After all, watching a movie trailer is no different than walking a grocery store aisle at this point, all those brands and colors and promises appealing to you and your wallet, "Hey, Soul Sister" stirring from speakers you can't turn off or even see. There is no escape. We live in this world now.
Anyway, where was I? Tom Hanks... Julia Roberts... oh! Right: Larry Crowne. Looks cute! Could use more Pam Grier, though.
VERDICT: Sold.