DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS?

US, 2009, 103 minutes, Colour.
Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker, Mary Steenburgen, Sam Elliot, Kim Shaw, Michael Kelly.
Directed by Marc Lawrence.

In a way, you could say, 'seen any of Hugh Grant's American romantic comedies, you've seen them all'. Not quite accurate – some are more entertaining than others – but this one is more or less the usual. When his voice comes over the opening credits, he really does sound more British than British (and is later referred to as 'the tea drinker'). When he comes on screen (and it is two years since his last film, Music & Lyrics), it is a shock to be reminded of how mannered he is, the charming bumbler who has gaffed his way through many a film. His character is not quite so charming here – an infidelity in his marriage – and, as a New York City lawyer, he can't be all that bumbling...

Except, if the plot landed him in the middle of rural Wyoming where he is most definitely not at home. Oh, how did he get there from NYC? The Witness Protection program.

After a usual kind of opening as he meets his ex-wife, Sara Jessica Parker, a hot shot real estate agent, for dinner, they witness a murder and off they are hurried to the small town of Ray (one cafe, one store, a rodeo...).

The plot is a kind of Crocodile Dundee in reverse. The city slickers who can't get to sleep because Wyoming lacks the accustomed noises of New York have to adjust (they do a bit), have to face their marriage (they do), escape the killer who has tracked them down (yes, she did make a phone call to her office which the killer had bugged), kiss and make up, find a child to adopt and become pregnant. If you like the stars, no problem.

But Sam Elliot (who has done this kind of laconic cowboy role so many times in westerns and non-westerns but does it effectively) and Mary Steenburgen (who is appearing these years in welcome character roles) are the husband and wife deputies who are responsible for the protection of the witnesses.

That's it, neither more nor less.

1.A pleasant romantic comedy? With a difference – the fish out of water with the city people going to the country? A Hugh Grant vehicle?

2.The popularity of Hugh Grant, in this type of film, his charming and bumbling character? Variation on a theme? Sarah Jessica Parker, her films, Sex and the City, audience expectations? How credible a couple?

3.The locations: the emphasis on New York City, apartments, restaurants, streets? The contrast with Wyoming, the wide open spaces? The town of Cody and the Bargain Basement? Travelling to Ray, passing through it quickly? The one-store and one-café town? The deputy’s house beyond Ray? The countryside – as Paul and Meryl jog through it? The cattle, the horses? Wyoming versus New York?

4.The title, the focus on the Morgans, the gossip, their life, separation, the witness protection, their life in Wyoming, the reconciliation?

5.The introduction to Paul, Hugh Grant’s voice-over over the credits? His situation, the separation from Meryl? His infidelity? The gradual revelation about their having no children, the issue of adoption, Paul and his hesitation, the experience of infertility and the many attempts? His fling? The repercussions? His work as a lawyer?

6.The introduction to Meryl, her skill as a real estate agent, with people, trying to persuade them to buy? Her abilities? The separation from Paul? Her wanting to have a child, the infertility issues? Her disappointment at his infidelity? The later revelation of her own infidelity and it weighing on her conscience?

7.Together, the meal, the aftermath? The murder, the vehicle and their hiding, the assassin seeing them? The pursuit? The police, giving their statements? Their needing to be witnesses? The witness protection scheme? The police officers and the argument about leaving New York? Meryl and her career, Paul and his work? The persuasion that they must go? Packing and the advice from the policewoman about what dresses to take…? On the plane, the revelation of the destination, going to Wyoming?

8.The contrast between New York and Wyoming, the open spaces? The airport, the sleeping policeman, Clay Wheeler meeting them? The cold, the clothes, going to the Bargain Basement and Meryl’s amazement at the prices? Leaving Cody, going through Ray so quickly? The house, the room, the room arrangements and sleeping?

9.Clay and Emma, as deputies, their job in helping witnesses? Their comfortable life together, despite past difficulties, always resolving them? Clay as the typical western type, tall, lanky, the moustache, homespun wisdom? Emma, her love for guns? Hospitable?

10.The behaviour of the Morgans, as separated, discussions, the loud arguments? The apologies to Clay and Emma? Advice? Their going jogging? The spray against the bear – and the comedy with the bear menacing Paul? The spray and his having to go to the doctor? The nurse (and her later being seen as head of the fire brigade as well as a waitress in the restaurant, and her dumb blonde remarks – with good nature)? The doctor, the discussions, his wanting to sell his mother’s house and Meryl acting as an estate agent, showing the people round, successful? Paul and his upset about his eyes? Meryl and her going to phone, ringing the adoption agency?

11.The killer, trying to track down the Morgans, ringing the office, bugging the office and the assistant’s bag? Meryl’s phone call, the doctor, tracking them down to Ray? His flying out? His disguise, genial inquiries? Tracking them down at the house, the guns, Meryl and Paul after their shooting practice, Meryl being a good shot? Their escaping on horseback?

12.Going out to the restaurant on a date, the advice from Clay? The owner, Meryl not wanting any smoking, the country folks reacting to the city folks? Republicans? Churchgoing? Meryl being agnostic? The later meeting with Paul, the old man wanting his will altered? Looking after his granddaughter, wanting her to go on American Idol? Her singing at the rodeo?

13.Packing, the decision that they should go together after the reconciliation and the night with each other? The revelation of the truth about Meryl’s behaviour, Paul and his being upset?

14.Going into town, the rodeo, being disguised as the clown bulls? The killer, everybody converging on him and saying they were witnesses?

15.A pleasant look at Wyoming life? The country characters? The Crocodile Dundee-style story of city people having to adapt to the countryside, clothes, manners, conveniences…? How well did it work as a romantic comedy variation?