AT THE MOVIES WITH DILLON KIMMEL
Most Americans 40 and older have seen Dustin Hoffman’s 1967 blockbuster The Graduate, maybe even a few times. For those that have not, let me elaborate. Hoffman plays a recent college graduate who is seduced by the clever, older Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft in the original). Years later, he falls in love with her daughter, Elaine. The truth about the affair is revealed to the horror of Elaine’s parents. In 1963, many will remember Charles Webb released the book, The Graduate, on which the movie was based. Immediately, rumors surfaced that the book was based on true events.
Now picture this. What if the young, adventurous Hoffman actually existed, and he was in fact seduced by an older, married woman? What if the one-night-stand with the older woman’s daughter actually happened, except this time the story didn’t end so well? What if the engaged daughter went back to her beau in waiting, leaving the dejected Hoffman behind to wonder about what could have been? Such is the storyline of Rumor has it…
Sarah Huttinger (Jennifer Aniston) has never fit in with her family. Since the death of her mother when she was only a child, Sarah has struggled with her self-image and never felt comfortable at family gatherings. So, naturally when she packs up and heads to California with her fiancé Jeff (Mark Ruffalo) to attend her sister’s wedding, Sarah begins to dread the visit.
Sarah also is beginning to get cold feet about marrying Jeff. She is pretty sure she loves him but is terrified of settling down with someone, fearing failure. Her horribly sarcastic grandmother Katherine (Shirley MacLaine) tries to cheer her up, accidentally letting slip that her mother also got cold feet before her wedding and ran off to Mexico for a romantic weekend with a former high school classmate.
Knowing full well she was conceived just before her parent’s wedding, Sarah begins to panic, fearing the mysterious man may be her real father. She sets out to find him and uncovers the truth. Her grandmother is Mrs. Robinson, her mother did have an affair with the handsome Beau Burroughs (Kevin Costner), and her family is in fact the inspiration for The Graduate. But a boozy dinner with Beau soon escalates, and Sarah soon finds herself another victim of Beau’s charm.
Rumor has it… is surprisingly good and extremely funny. Shirley MacLaine steals the show as Sarah’s crude, sarcastic grandmother. MacLaine is funnier than I have ever seen her, and keeps a mediocre cast afloat.
The rest of the star-studded cast is decent but nothing to get excited about. Aniston is convincing enough as the confused daughter searching for answers. Costner has a limited role, and his character is not developed very well. At the end, however, he and MacLaine have an awkward encounter that left the theater I was in, screaming with laughter.
The quirky humor and clever plot twists are what carries this film. [Spoiler warning] Costner cannot have children due to an unfortunate soccer accident early in his life. But when his son shows up to a party that he has brought Sarah to, she freaks out. (The son was adopted, consequently). Numerous other twists and turns keep the movie interesting.
The beginning is also very helpful. Aniston provides the audience with an entire history of The Graduate, including her family’s involvement in it all. Without an up-front explanation of what is going on, the younger audience members (like me) would have been completely lost.
Overall, Rumor has it… provides a very entertaining night at the movies. With an original plot and hilarious dialogue from MacLaine and others, this comedy should keep audiences entertained throughout.
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