Opening 26 Nov 2009
Directed by:
Jonas Elmer
Writing credits:
Ken Rance, C. Jay Cox
Principal actors:
Renée Zellweger, Harry Connick Jr., Siobhan Fallon, J.K. Simmons, Frances Conroy
Lucy Hill (Renée Zellweger), City Girl from Miami, single and on the way to a top career, finds herself sent to freezing cold Minnesota to restructure a plant run by her company. In New Ulm she is supposed to prepare the plant for production robots and to reduce jobs by 50%. After a successful completion, she would climb the next step on the career ladder for sure. Luxury clothes and shoes, a comfortable living and all the advantages a city can offer are Lucy’s life.
In New Ulm she is welcomed by her secretary-to-be Blanche Gunderson (Siobhan Fallon Hogan, who played Elaine’s roommate in Seinfeld) and her friend and Lucy’s realtor Trudy (Frances Conroy, Ruth from Six Feet Under). Both women have the charm and outfit of “typical” Midwestern women: very nice but wacky. Blanche invites Lucy for a welcome dinner party, where she is confronted with the men: beer, hockey and ice fishing is all they seem care about. Soon she finds out that even work life in a small town works differently. Her secretary wants to be her friend, gives hugs and cooks tons of tapioca. And the union leader (Harry Connick, Jr.) turns out to be a caring, wonderful man. When the plant is supposed to be closed and Lucy returns to Miami, she finally finds out what she really wants: small towns with friends and a man to love. She returns, finds love and even saves the plant.
Once again Zellweger proves her talent for comedy, because as soon as she arrives the trouble starts and lots of very funny situations come up. She does almost everything wrong that one can do in a deeply-covered-in-snow town in the Midwest. And there is love…after all, this is a romantic comedy! Mixed with the differences city/countryside, some problems of our times (women in top positions, plants being closed, workers losing jobs) New in Town is a typical Hollywood and chick flick – which I like. The ones who like those as well will love the movie; the others might get at least a laugh out of it. My tip for a girls' night out! (Tina Grieben)
