Mary Anne McGarry Movies

A woman discovers that a part of her family history may be more complicated -- and more famous -- than she ever imagined in this comedy. Thirtysomething Sarah Huttinger (Jennifer Aniston), who has spent most of her adult life in New York City, is flying home to California with her long time boyfriend, Jeff Daly (Mark Ruffalo), for the wedding of her annoyingly perky younger sister, Annie (Mena Suvari). While Sarah and Jeff have recently announced they're engaged to be married, Sarah has been having second thoughts, and she isn't excited about the prospect of spending time with the family where she's always felt like the odd duck. As Sarah tries to decide what she should do with her personal and professional lives, she turns to her sharp-tongued and still youthful grandmother, Katharine (Shirley MacLaine), for advice, and Katharine shares a little-known bit of family history -- that Sarah's now-deceased mother left her father, Earl (Richard Jenkins), a few days before their wedding and ran off with another man for several days before coming back and marrying Earl. However, after hearing this Sarah is also treated to some long-simmering local gossip about a young man who ran off with a bride-to-be after he was seduced by her mother...and that the story became the basis for the hit movie The Graduate. Sarah begins to wonder, was Katharine the real-life Mrs. Robinson of this story? And if it's true, who was the man who had affairs with Sarah's mother and grandmother? Was it dashing and wealthy family friend Beau Burroughs (Kevin Costner), who has also turned Sarah's head? Rumor Has It... was produced from an original screenplay by Ted Griffin; Griffin was originally set to direct the film, but shortly after production began he was replaced, with Rob Reiner taking over the project. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

A young misfit learns a valuable life lesson from the last person he ever thought possible in this sensitive coming of age tale from director Azazel Jacobs (The Goodtimeskid, Momma's Man). After losing his parents at a young age, overweight Terri (Jacob Wysocki) was sent to live with his uncle. Life has never been easy for the embattled young boy, and as his uncle's health begins to deteriorate, Terri becomes the target of relentless teasing by his cruel classmates. When Terri's apathetic teachers fail to offer him any guidance, his intimidating vice principal, Mr. Fitzgerald (John C. Reilly), recognizes a student in need, and reaches out to him. Through that unlikely friendship, Terri discovers that outcasts needn't endure life alone, and that by banding together, they can accomplish great things. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi