Honestly, the main character in this romantic comedy doesn’t develop feelings for the single mother until the very end of the movie. As someone who typically enjoys Hugh Grant’s romantic comedies, I was disappointed with The Rewrite. Watching the film made me question several things, such as my admiration for Hugh Grant, what truly constitutes a romantic comedy, and how Marisa Tomei manages to maintain her youthful looks. However, let’s focus on summarizing the movie’s plot and discussing why it was hard for me to invest in it.
The Rewrite follows Keith Michaels, a screenwriter who had one big hit years ago but now struggles to find work. He feels frustrated that studios only seem interested in producing films about women who kick butt. Therefore, when he’s offered a teaching position at a small college on the East Coast, he takes it. Keith’s colleagues at the college include J.K. Simmons, Chris Elliott, and Allison Janney, who teaches a Jane Austen course. Unfortunately, Keith insults her right away with some sexist remarks about Jane Austen.
Throughout the movie, it becomes apparent that Keith is a huge sexist jerk. However, this is hardly a new concept for romantic comedies, which often feature male protagonists who learn to respect women (or at least one woman). Keith shows his true colors by selecting students for his screenwriting workshop based solely on their Facebook profiles, choosing several attractive young women and two nerdy men. He also has sex with one of his female students after meeting her at a Wendy’s on his first night in town.
Overall, I found The Rewrite difficult to connect with because of Keith’s unlikable personality and behavior towards women. While some may appreciate the film’s exploration of the romantic comedy genre’s typical male protagonist archetype, it fell flat for me.
Hugh Grant may not show much interest in his screenwriting workshop, but there is someone who does – Marisa Tomei. As a single mother who admires Hugh’s work, she seeks his feedback on her screenplay. This leads to a romantic involvement between the two.
The movie “The Rewrite” lacked conflict and emotion. It was more like a love story between Hugh Grant’s character and the concept of being a professor. The supporting cast, including Marisa Tomei, was excellent, but the movie still fell short. There were not enough jokes, romance, or even a single kiss. The movie contained some sexist elements, such as male students receiving better opportunities despite fewer male characters in the film. The female characters were often portrayed as dumb, sex objects, or shrill, except for Tomei’s character, who was excellent. The film felt lazy, half-formed, and boring, which is disappointing given the talent involved. Overall, it was not a good movie, and it did not make the viewer believe in love.