With "Larry Crowne," Tom Hanks Continues Reign as World's Most Likeable Human Being

Two obscure stars you've never heard of.

Is there anyone who doesn't like Tom Hanks?

No, seriously. If his humble, open-faced Everyman persona doesn't do it for you, there's also his involvement in a whole host progressive causes, from AIDS to veteran activism.

Then there's the fact that he's actively used the clout that comes being the most beloved movie star in the world to greenlight quirky projects like My Big Fat Greek Wedding and  "difficult" projects like TV's The Pacific and Band of Brothers.

Hanks has produced, written, and directed two films to date, That Thing You Do! and Larry Crowne (co-written with My Big Fat Greek Wedding's Nia Vardalos), which opens today.

I don't think it's a stretch to say that both films tell us a lot about Hanks, because both have very similar tones: they're somewhat slight, but ultimately optimistic yarns with abiding affection for both the common man and the underdog.

In other words, Hanks' public persona is no act: he really is just that nice. If a recording ever surfaces of him making racist, violent threats to his wife Rita Wilson, I'll literally eat my hat.

Larry Crowne tells the story of a divorced veteran and devoted worker who loves his job in retail, but is abruptly downsized in a lousy economy. With few prospects and a mortgage he can't meet, Crowne has no choice but to try to completely reinvent himself, despite being in his 50s. He heads back to college where he soon falls in with a group of quirky, mostly younger new friends. And one of his professors happens to be a grumpy, heavy-drinking, but very attractive college professor (Julie Roberts in full My Best Friends Wedding bitchy mode).

Hanks with the scenery-chewing George Takei

The first half of the film is definitely the weakest. I totally get what Hanks was going for: in his world, it's the grocery clerks and short-order cooks who are the heroes, and it's the unfeeling loan officers, arrogant novelists, and corporate flunkies who are the villains (that's the way it is in my world too!).

But when the local "gang" just happens to stop by on their mopeds to give Larry a complete make-over — and redecorates his house to boot! — Hanks the director has moved from Capra-esque fantasy to annoyingly precious.

That said, the movie soon gets its second wind. Larry Crowne is being sold as this summer's anti-blockbuster, a sweet little movie that tells a modest story about actual characters. And sure enough, the movie's sweetness, its gentle optimism, and the sure-fire charisma of Hanks and Roberts did ultimately win me over. By the time Larry gives his last presentation to his speech class (which is delightful), the movie is finally firing on all cylinders.

Some mention must be made of out Star Trek alum George Takei, who makes a big impression in the small role of Dr. Matsutani, Larry's pretentious economics professor. Takei is just doing a variation on his now-famous public persona, with his exaggerated mannerisms and ridiculous laugh. But the scenery-chewing is pretty funny, and the audience at the screening I attended seemed to think he stole the show.

Speaking of Frank Capra, Hanks is often called the modern-day Jimmy Stewart. And sure enough, it's Capra films like It's a Wonderful Life and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington that Larry Crowne most resembles, at least in tone.

Truthfully, I'll be annoyed if Larry Crowne is an Oscar contender this year (because it doesn't really deserve to be). But I'll be equally annoyed if it's completely dismissed by snotty critics who mock its old-fashioned, American-can-do sensibility and complete lack of cynicism, which I thought was the most interesting (and different) thing about the film.

I like Tom Hanks, and I liked Larry Crowne too. Movie-goers could do a lot worse.