Hugh Grant makes up for dull and predictable plot in “The Rewrite”

Reed Wojick

Staff Writer

Though many fail to succeed in their passion, one must take any opportunity to follow it.

Directed by Marc Lawrence, “The Rewrite” depicts Keith Michaels (Hugh Grant), who is offered a job as a screenwriting professor in upstate New York, but at first says no. He then meets Molly (Marissa Tomei), a single mom who is a student for his scripting class resulting in a romance.

In “The Rewrite,” Hugh Grant portrays a washed up irrelevant screenwriter who tries to gain more respect by teaching at a college. Marisa Tomei, playing a stern uptight student, falls into the picture as they begin to realize their common qualities.

Though some may say dating your student is unjust, in this case, it isn’t. The two are around the same age and find that they do have something a little special according to Grant’s character.

Parallels with Grant’s own career are drawn in as they show him on tv at the Globes failing yet again as an actor which is like the character he plays in “The Rewrite.” In real life Grant is striving for attention and respect for his movies.

However, the film lacks comedic quality and adds too much of an aggressive academic tone. Marisa Tomei’s character is painfully underwritten and lacks closure of who she is outside of class and motherhood.

“The Rewrite” lets the audience think for themselves as of what to expect from the failing screenwriter and leads to some anticipating scenes. Hugh Grant looks at himself as a failure, yet wants people to look at him as more. The film leads people to think about Grant’s real life achievements and about what he has done as an actor.

Though the movie has many moments of wit and humor; it lacked closure for the audience members due to the generic ending of romance. Grant shows the viewers that he can be versatile and subtle in this romantic comedy. Seems as though he has quit the childish boy act and has put himself into a mature look at love.

Hugh Grant makes people want to see more of his movies and as we see him struggle in “The Rewrite.” His charm and wit make up for the cliché storyline and predictable ending.

“The Rewrite” is unrated and is now playing in theaters nationwide.