REELGUYS DVD REVIEW: "Did You Hear About the Morgans?" somewhat enjoyable but ultimately forgettable

Hugh Grant is one of the best things about this fish-out-of-water tale. Or should I say city folk reluctantly out in the country story? His last picture "Music & Lyrics"--one in a series of his trademark romantic comedies--was released seemingly an eternity ago. Grant is becoming less and less prolific with his projects, which is ultimately unfortunate for his fans. Similarly unfortunate is that "Did Your Hear About the Morgans?" isn't a better film. Written and directed by frequent collaborator Marc Lawrence ("Two Weeks Notice," "Music & Lyrics"), the movie is mildly humorous but comes across as unpolished and incomplete. Grant's co-star, Sarah Jessica Parker ("Sex and the City"), lacks Grant's subtlety and comedic timing and borders on annoying throughout the picture. Once the setting changes to the small town, at least there are enough interesting rural characters to give the story some texture but none of the red state/blue state comparisons really go far enough to create a sustainable laugh.

Grant and Parker are Paul and Meryl Morgan, a married couple who are currently separated because of Grant's infidelity. She is the owner of a major real estate firm and is caught up in her work. He is terribly apologetic and is willing to do about anything to fix the situation. They go out on a test date but during that date they witness a professional hit. The couple reluctantly enter the witness relocation program and are sent across the country to hide out. In a rural area of Wyoming, they must re-learn to get along while surviving the quiet, small town lifestyle. Luckily, the Wheelers (Sam Elliott and Mary Steenburgen), a law enforcement couple, are there to protect them from the killer and each other.

Elliott and Steenburgen are a welcome respite from the bickering city couple. They are grounded, folksy, and a more believable loving pair than the Morgans. There are some funny remarks and moments but most are compliments of Grant's expressiveness or wit. The small town/big city jokes don't push the boundaries enough to become social commentary, pulling back before becoming even slightly offensive. The burgeoning relationships with the townspeople give the picture its heart but other small town pictures like "New in Town" or "The Proposal" do it better. Parker's two assistants are throwaway characters when they could've been more entertaining and the killer who is searching for the couple is neither threatening nor unintentionally humorous.

Fans of Grant and, to a lesser extent, Parker may enjoy this romantic comedy but it is ultimately forgettable and certainly neither party's best performance. Hopefully, Grant can find better material in the near future.

Rated PG-13 for some sexual references and momentary violence.