Runaway Jury

December 30, 2004

What would you do if you woke up Christmas morning and found your spouse sitting on the couch watching a John Grisham movie?

Well, normally, I would throw a shit fit and pout and whine until the channel was changed, but the spirit of Christmas seized me. While my heart didn’t exactly grow three sizes that day, it did grow enough to allow my husband to continue watching Runaway Jury.

Somehow, I’d managed to make it almost 29 years without ever reading a John Grisham novel or seeing a John Grisham movie adaptation. Seriously, Runaway Jury was my first exposure to anything John Grisham – and now I know why. I just don’t get off on courtroom dramas. And Runaway Jury definitely did nothing to change my mind on that account.

The plot barely rose above the level of your run-of-the-mill made for TV movie. This movie could have been made just as easily with Noah Wyle and Jennifer Love Hewitt for NBC, for A LOT LESS MONEY. Of course, then it would have sucked really badly, instead of just being so-so. The only saving grace of the entire film was the cast. This is probably one if the best casts you’ll find in a fairly mediocre movie.

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I’d watch practically any movie with John Cusack in it. (Except for America’s Sweethearts – fuck that shit.) I’d have to say that one whole BOB goes solely to Cusack. The other one probably should go to Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman. Even though I am usually underwhelmed by Hoffman as an actor, he actually did a good job here…except for the sorry excuse for a ‘Nawlins accent. As usual, Rachel Weisz left me feeling “meh.” Oh well, can’t win ’em all.

All in all, not too shitty – although I’m not joining the John Grisham Fan Club anytime soon.