Did You Hear About The Morgan’s?

By Ashley Hillard

Like a low fat muffin, “Did You Hear About The Morgan’s?” is fluffy, consumable and fresh-enough, just not that fulfilling.

What works about ‘s film is, well, Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant – they’re vets of the rom-com, and know their way around these thinly-written but usually-entertaining enough farces like a janitor does a soap dispenser.

Parker plays hard working, jilted Realtor Meryl Morgan, while Hugh ‘didn’t-he-say-he-was-going-to-retire?’ Grant is her estranged, adulterous husband Paul. While trying to win Meryl back, the two witness a murder that puts their lives in danger, and as a consequence, are forced to “leave it all behind” and enter the witness protection program.

Its city mouse meets country mouse when the Morgan’s move in with a small town Sheriff, played fantastically by Sam Elliot, and his gun toting wife, played by Mary Steenburgen (also great here). While Meryl and Paul adjust to life without assistants and Blackberries, they reconnect with nature and each other.

Predictable, sure – even reality TV have used the tired template! – and it isn’t even a close match for any of those awards season winners also on release, but Grant and Parker make it a reasonable time. Parker’s playing a role similar to [“Sex and the City”’s] Carrie, but manages not to channel Carrie too much – which must be difficult – and Grant is his typical, self deprecating, witty self.

If you’re looking for a love story, ‘’Avatar’’ features a better one, and if you’re idea of good company is a girl who loves shoes and lives in NYC, ‘’Sex and the City 2’’ will hit theaters soon enough. Oh, and if you miss Hugh Grant, rent ‘’Bridget Jones’’ – he’s never topped his performance in that, and doesn’t even come close here.

Wait for the DVD.