Did You Hear About the Morgans?

Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker play an estranged husband and wife, both die-hard New Yorkers; while trying to patch things up, they witness a murder and have to go into witness protection in backwater Wyoming. Encounters with bears, bingo, and rodeo clowns ensue. The fish-out-of-water formula is not particularly inspired, but Grant and Parker are well matched; they're both pros who establish an immediate rapport and comfort with each other, making them persuasive as a married couple who haven't fallen out of love. On top of that, the supporting cast is top-notch: Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men) as Parker's snippy assistant, Sam Elliott (Thank You for Smoking) as the Wyoming marshal assigned to protect the neurotic couple, and Mary Steenburgen (Melvin and Howard) as the marshal's tough-as-nails wife are only the most recognizable of the solid ensemble playing the quirky characters surrounding the feuding romantic leads. Writer-director Marc Lawrence previously directed Grant to stronger effect in Music & Lyrics and, in particular, Two Weeks Notice, in which Grant and Sandra Bullock proved surprisingly sparky. --Bret Fetzer