“Rumor Has It” (Warner Brothers)
Jennifer Aniston’s face seems to grace each and every tabloid newspaper and magazine’s cover these days. She also seems to be in every other movie coming out of Hollywood. Her role in the comedy “Rumor Has It” is as close to her “Friends” role of Rachel Green as any she has had in movies yet. That should be enough to guarantee the success of the film, but it isn’t. It appears Rachel on the small screen and Rachel-like on the big screen are two different things.
Aniston plays Sarah Huttinger, a young woman who feels she is nothing like the other members of her family. While home in Pasadena for her sister Annie’s (Mena Suvari) wedding, she learns that a few weeks before her wedding her now deceased mother ran away to Mexico. She later learns she ran off to be with a young man named Beau Burroughs (Kevin Costner), who had also had an affair with Sarah’s maternal grandmother Katharine (Shirley MacLaine).
These stories lead Sarah to believe her family was the basis for the book and film “The Graduate.” There had always been rumors in Pasadena that Charles Webb, the author of the book, knew a real family there who had been in similar circumstances to those in his novel. Sarah decides to confront Beau Burroughs and learn the truth, and also ask him if he is her father.
This plot, and how it plays out, should be the sort of thing from which comedy would naturally flow. Somehow it doesn’t. The storyline becomes rather dull and the only bright spots are when MacLaine is center stage. Aniston’s character is dense, dull and silly. She also is a poor choice of a partner for her fiance’ Jeff (Mark Ruffalo).
Aniston looks great in the role and for the first few moments of the movie is appealing, but she gets tiresome quickly. Suvari is tiresome from the get-go with her chipper portrayal of the sister. Costner has some appeal but his is a poorly written role.
Then there is Ruffalo who manages to give the role of Jeff some dignity. He and Aniston make an odd couple but at least he comes across as sincere. Richard Jenkins is also interesting in his role as Aniston’s father. He is the type of actor who can make any role better just by being the one cast in it. Contrast his performance here with the one he played as Charlize Theron’s father in “North Country.” The man’s talent has range.
As for Shirley MacLaine, you can believe she would have been “Mrs. Robinson.” She is that sexy and smart-mouthed. When she confronts Costner the screen snaps with her repartee’. Too bad director Rob Reiner didn’t use her more. It certainly would have improved his film.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and sexual situations.
The rumor is that “Rumor Has It” is not such a good movie. This is one rumor you should believe.
I scored “Rumor Has It” a whispered 5 out of 10.
