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Tell Others About This Page By Using This Button "DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS?" (2009) (Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Mild None Extreme Moderate Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild None Minor Minor Moderate Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Moderate Minor Heavy Heavy Heavy QUICK TAKE: Dramedy: After witnessing a murder, a recently separated couple are put into the witness relocation program and moved from New York City to Wyoming where they must not only put up with each other, but also small town, rural life. PLOT: Paul (HUGH GRANT) and Meryl Morgan (SARAH JESSICA PARKER) are so successful in their careers in New York City -- he's a lawyer while she runs her own real estate firm -- that they require personal assistants -- Adam (JESSE LIEBMAN) for him and Jackie (ELISABETH MOSS) for her -- just to make it through the day. Yet, they've now been separated for three months due to him cheating on her, a mistake for which he wants to make amends. While out for the evening, they happen to witness a murder committed by Vincent (MICHAEL KELLY), a hitman working for an international arms dealer. The Feds realize the couple will likely now be targets themselves, and thus put them into the witness relocation program, eventually depositing them just outside a small town in Wyoming. There, and with new last names, they end up staying with U.S. Marshal and local sheriff Clay Wheeler (SAM ELLIOT) along with his gun-toting wife, Emma (MARY STEENBURGEN), with Meryl pretending to be Clay's cousin from Chicago. As they get used to the remote living -- including the presence of grizzly bears -- and small town life -- where Doc Simmons (DAVID CALL) and Nurse Kelly (KIM SHAW) are the only medical practitioners and the owner of the lone restaurant, Earl Granger (WILFORD BRIMLEY), has already indoctrinated his granddaughter, Lucy (GRACIE BEA LAWRENCE), into being suspicious of big city folk -- the Morgans must also contend with being stuck together. As they await their new, separate relocations, their relationship continues to change, all as Vincent tries to figure out where they've been sent, find them, and put an end to their lives as protected witnesses. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Those who are fans of Grant, Parker and/or anyone else in the cast may be interested, as might those wanting to see what looks like a whacky comedy. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For some sexual references and momentary violence. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: HUGH GRANT plays a successful New York lawyer who's desperate to make amends with his separated wife after cheating on her with someone else. As he tries to do that, he must contend with being relocated to a small town with her after they witness a murder and are put under federal protection. He uses some profanity. SARAH JESSICA PARKER plays his wife who runs a successful real estate business but no longer trusts him, and thus is wary of forgiving him for his infidelity. She must also contend with small-town life, her own guilt about some of her past actions, and the killer wanting to silence her and Paul. SAM ELLIOT plays the local sheriff whose last assignment as a U.S. Marshall will be protecting the Morgans. The grizzled and mostly stoic type, he's slightly amused but sometimes irritated by the big city couple and their reaction to life outside of the Big Apple. He briefly uses some profanity. MARY STEENBURGEN plays his wife, who's quite handy with guns and hopes that the Morgans will sort out their differences and be happy. JESSE LIEBMAN plays Paul's personal assistant who worries about him while he's gone. ELISABETH MOSS plays his counterpart, Meryl's assistant who domineers most of their interaction. MICHAEL KELLY plays the hitman who's already killed several people and is now tracking down the Morgans to silence them as potential witness. DAVID CALL plays the town's lone physician who treats Paul's bruised shoulder and gets Meryl to help him sell his mother's place. KIM SHAW plays his cleavage-revealing nurse who also holds down various other jobs in town. WILFORD BRIMLEY plays the owner of the town's lone restaurant who doesn't look kindly on the big city couple, but asks for Paul's help in writing his will. He briefly smokes. GRACIE BEA LAWRENCE plays his granddaughter who's already adopted his distrust of outsiders and particularly those who have different social and political leanings. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a brief summary of the content found in this dramedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 2 "s" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Non-explicit but sexually related dialogue is present, and off-screen sex is implied. Violence includes on and off-screen murders (the latter showing a body pushed off a balcony) and attempted murder (although played a notch or two below realism considering the genre). That said, some viewers might still find some of that material as unsettling and/or suspenseful. Bad attitudes are obviously present, as is tense family material regarding past infidelity, marital separation and the repercussions of that. Some drinking is seen and there's brief smoking, while some potentially imitative behavior is present. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE We see glasses of wine on tables at a reception. Miscellaneous people have wine in a restaurant. About his past fling, Paul admits he'd had a few drinks. Miscellaneous people have beer at a rodeo, and then again the next day at the same event. BLOOD/GORE None. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE We hear that the Morgans have been separated for three months, and then learn that was because he cheated on her by sleeping with someone else. Paul is unnerved upon his first sight of Emma checking out a rifle in a warehouse store. When Meryl catches sight of her, she exclaims, "Oh God, it's Sarah Palin" (some viewers might not like that joke). When Meryl says she's a vegetarian and member of PETA, Emma says she is as well, but then states that's "People for Eating Tasty Animals" (some viewers might not like that joke). Breaking the witness protection rules, Meryl sneaks a phone call back to New York. Earl doesn't take kindly to Meryl asking if he could blow his cigarette smoke another direction in a restaurant, and he and his granddaughter look down on her and Paul. Meryl admits to Clay that she slept with someone else while she and Paul were separated. She later tells Paul who's upset by this revelation (despite his past infidelity). He then states that while his was a mistake, hers seems like revenge, thus creating another falling out between them just when things seemed patched up. FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed here and under "Violence" may be unsettling and/or suspenseful to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. A body falls off a balcony with a knife in the back and lands on the street in front of the Morgans. They try to hide, and Vincent (a hitman working for an international arms dealer) aims his gun at them, but doesn't get off a shot. Posing as a cop, Vincent twice shoots and kills a U.S. Marshall outside Meryl's door, and then fires at her several times as she goes out the window and then climbs along the ledge to try to get to safety (part of our film appears to have been missing at this point, as there was an abrupt jump cut, so we can't say what else, if anything, happens in that sequence). While played mostly for comedy, Meryl spots a grizzly bear behind Paul and tells him to freeze, along with giving him other survival orders. The bear eventually rears up and charges, with Paul running into the house but getting bear repellant accidentally sprayed into his face as Meryl fires that at the bear that then retreats. We see that the hitman has arrived in town and is searching for the Morgans. While Clay and Emma are away at the rodeo and Paul and Meryl are inside their home, the killer arrives, armed with a semi-automatic weapon. That ends up accidentally fired when he's startled by a grizzly bear, that alerting the Morgans. Meryl shoots back at him with a rifle that's then empty, while Vincent returns fire with many bullets. The Morgans then escape on horseback, with him taking another shot at them. After trying to elude Vincent in the stands at a rodeo, the Morgans end up hiding inside a bull costume when they're ushered out into the ring and the bull charges them, knocking them to the ground and apparently injuring Meryl's leg. Paul then decides to rush Vincent with bear repellent, but ends up spraying himself in the face by accident. Vincent then aims his gun at Paul, but others, including Emma, aim theirs at Vincent, followed by Clay throwing a horseshoe that hits Vincent on the head, downing and disarming him. GUNS/WEAPONS Handguns/Machine gun/Rifle/Knife/: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others. See "Violence" for details. Paul is unnerved upon his first sight of Emma checking out a rifle in a warehouse store. When Meryl catches sight of her, she exclaims, "Oh God, it's Sarah Palin." We hear gunshots from a "Dirty Harry" movie that's playing on TV, followed by viewing a lone car then going up on its side on something in the city as a result. Emma carries a rifle in various scenes, while Clay wears a holstered sidearm. Emma does some target shooting with her rifle (shooting cans). She then shows Meryl how to do the same, followed by Paul trying his hand at that (but the recoil hurts his shoulder). IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Oh sh*t," "Get over all the bullsh*t," "I looked up 'loose legal ladies,'" "What do you mean, 'Ow?' That was foreplay," "Just do it, be a man," "Nuts" (crazy), "Oh jeez," "Oh God, it's Sarah Palin," "People for Eating Tasty Animals," "I thought I could hear my cells dividing," "Bollocks," "God in Heaven," "You are a scary little man," "God, I was amazing," "A big hell yeah," "Isn't this what screwed us up in the first place?" "Screw you," "Are you crazy?" and "What in God's name was I thinking?" Vincent plants an audio bug in Meryl's office, hoping to hear where she might be. Emma does some target shooting with her rifle (shooting cans). She then shows Meryl how to do the same, followed by Paul trying his hand at that (but the recoil hurts his shoulder). While mad/upset, Paul angrily and aggressively chops wood with an ax, sending the pieces flying. A woman does all sorts of stunts (hanging from the side and moving around, etc.) on a horse at a rodeo show. Clay throws a horseshow to hit and stop the hitman. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A little bit of suspenseful music plays in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) Lucy performs a song at a rodeo that includes repeating the lyric, "A big hell yeah." PROFANITY At least 2 "s" words, 6 hells, 2 bollocks, 15 uses of "Oh my God," 7 of "Oh God," 5 of "My God," 2 of "God" and 1 use each of "Christ," "God," "God in Heaven," "Good God" and "Oh Lord." SEX/NUDITY We hear that the Morgans have been separated for three months, and then learn that was because he cheated on her by sleeping with someone else (that's repeated again in the same conversation). Kelly shows some cleavage. Paul complains about a fertility woman who chanted over his sperm, as well as having to time sex with Meryl's cycles. He then states again that he slept with someone else. Emma shows a little cleavage. Meryl asks Paul about his fling and why he chose the woman. He tries to pretend she was unattractive, but Meryl says she found otherwise after searching for "loose legal ladies" on the Internet. He then tries to make Meryl feel better by saying she's the sexiest and most exciting woman he's ever been or would want to be with. Meryl shows a little cleavage. Kelly shows some cleavage. To try to prevent Jackie from calling Meryl and thus potentially risk their secret location, Adam suddenly plants a big kiss on her. Instinctively, she grabs her tazer and zaps him to the floor (played for comedy). Recalling his wedding vows, Paul repeats several lines, including about not stopping at marveling at her behind. They then passionately kiss outside, and we next see him carrying her into the bedroom and closing the door. He apparently drops or bangs her into something by accident, prompting an "Ow" from her. We then her him jokingly state, "What do you mean, 'Ow?' That was foreplay." The next day when she's tired during jogging, he jokes that he must have tired her out last night, adding, "God, I was amazing." Meryl admits to Clay that she slept with someone else while she and Paul were separated. She then admits the same to Paul in a later scene. Meryl shows cleavage. Paul jokes to their newly adopted child that they had to move out of their place because he didn't want to stay there after "Mommy" slept there with that other guy. SMOKING Earl doesn't take kindly to Meryl asking if he could blow his cigarette smoke another direction in a restaurant, and he and his granddaughter look down on her and Paul. TENSE FAMILY SCENES We hear that the Morgans have been separated for three months, and then learn that was because he cheated on her by sleeping with someone else. Meryl tells Paul that she's disappointed in him and doesn't trust him. We learn that part of the reason for the Morgans' issues was her desire to have a child and, when that didn't work biologically, then adopt one, while he wasn't so sure and didn't like the pressure he was put under in such regards. He complains about a fertility woman who chanted over his sperm, as well as timing sex with Meryl's cycles. Emma states that she and Clay had some rough patches in the past. We hear that Earl's wife divorced him in the past, and that he's caring for his granddaughter since the girl's father is ill and the mom is off in the military. Meryl asks Paul about his fling and why he chose the woman. He tries to pretend she was unattractive, but Meryl says she found otherwise after searching for "loose legal ladies" on the Internet. Meryl admits to Clay that she slept with someone else while she and Paul were separated. She later tells Paul that she did that, just once, and he's upset by this revelation (despite his past infidelity). He then states that while his was a mistake, hers seems like revenge, thus creating another falling out between them just when things seemed patched up. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Infidelity. The federal witness relocation program. Big city vs. small town life. Meryl briefly makes a presentation encouraging donations to help put an end to breast cancer. VIOLENCE A body falls off a balcony with a knife in the back and lands on the street in front of the Morgans. They try to hide, and Vincent (a hitman working for an international arms dealer) aims his gun at them, but doesn't get off a shot. Posing as a cop, Vincent twice shoots and kills a U.S. Marshall outside Meryl's door, and then fires at her several times as she goes out the window and then climbs along the ledge to try to get to safety (part of our film appears to have been missing at this point, as there was an abrupt jump cut, so we can't say what else, if anything, happens in that sequence). Meryl accidentally sprays bear repellent into Paul's face, causing him pain. We hear gunshots from a "Dirty Harry" movie that's playing on TV, followed by viewing a lone car then going up on its side on something in the city as a result. To try to prevent Jackie from calling Meryl and thus potentially risk their secret location, Adam suddenly plants a big kiss on her. Instinctively, she grabs her tazer and zaps him to the floor (played for comedy). While Clay and Emma are away at the rodeo and Paul and Meryl are inside their home, the killer arrives, armed with a semi-automatic weapon. That ends up accidentally fired when he's startled by a grizzly bear, that alerting the Morgans. Meryl shoots back at him with a rifle that's then empty, while Vincent returns fire with many bullets. The Morgans then escape on horseback, with him taking another shot at them. After trying to elude Vincent in the stands at a rodeo, the Morgans end up hiding inside a bull costume when they're ushered out into the ring and the bull charges them, knocking them to the ground and apparently injuring Meryl's leg. Paul then decides to rush Vincent with bear repellent, but ends up spraying himself in the face by accident. Vincent then aims his gun at Paul, but others, including Emma, aim theirs at Vincent, followed by Clay throwing a horseshoe that hits Vincent on the head, downing and disarming him. Reviewed December 14, 2009 / Posted December 18, 2009

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