Larry Crowne

IN DEFENSE OF LARRY CROWNE

To no one’s surprise, “Transformers” trounced “Larry Crowne” at the boxoffice this weekend. The Julia Roberts/Tom Hanks recession dramedy’s reviews weren’t great, but the movie experience is actually quite pleasant. Granted, Tom Hanks is a rather pedestrian director, but he plays “everyman” to perfection. The script was sprinkled with predictable situations and familiar characters, but there were surprisingly special moments and Tom and Julia’s presence makes up for a lot. It’s a sweet well-intentioned movie and you’ll walk out of it with a good feeling. Which is more than you can say about Transformers.