Themes: Keeping a Secret, Family Gatherings, Wedding Bells
Main Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner, Shirley MacLaine, Mark Ruffalo, Richard Jenkins, Mena Suvari
Release Year: 2005
Country: US
Run Time: 97 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
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, All Movie Guide
Review
Rumor Has It . . . is about the statistical norm for a Jennifer Aniston vehicle: appealing enough to be worth a look, but weighted down by the sense that there should have been something more. And catching Rob Reiner amid a definite string of directorial failures doesn't help. Actually, it's a pretty good conceit for a film, even if it hast to ride the coattails of a Hollywood classic to generate its curiosity factor. In its own way, Rumor Has It . . . is joining the furious sequel trend of the early 21st century, which has paid famously little mind to how long it's been since the previous installment. But Reiner's film, from an original screenplay by Ted Griffin, is surprisingly honest about its intentions, making The Graduate an explicit reference point as a (semi-)fictionalized work, rather than just revisiting its characters as though they were real people. That's probably the right move; it's as hard to imagine Kevin Costner being the mid-50s version of a young Dustin Hoffman as it is to stomach the story's central bit of ickiness, which never gets satisfactorily resolved. Namely, Aniston's Sarah Huttinger goes in search of Costner's Beau Burroughs, thinking it mathematically possible he's her father, and ends up romantically entangled with him way too soon after discovering he's not -- and with way too little evidence he's telling the truth. The fact that this comes at the expense of sweet-natured Mark Ruffalo, whose only crime is that he's not in the mood to join the mile-high club, just makes Aniston's character seem all the more mercenary. Shirley MacLaine spices up the cast, and there's a certain electricity to the players' interactions with each other. It's just that none of them earns any audience sympathy, particularly those with the most screen time. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
Christopher McDonald - Roger McManus; Steve Sandvoss - Scott; Mike Vogel - Blake Burroughs; Clyde Kusatsu - Conference Attendee; Shannon Farnon - Party Guest; Leigh French - Charity Dinner Guest; Paul Ganus - Co-Pilot; George Gerdes - Charity Dinner Guest; Googy Gress - Burly Man; Gabe Jarret - Conference Attendee; Jordan Lund - Charity Dinner Guest; Andy Milder - Conference Attendee; Terrie Snell - Party Guest; Lyman Ward - Charity Dinner Guest; Frank Novak - Party Guest; Marie Cheatham - Party Guest; William Kerr - Party Guest; Jennifer Taylor - Jocelyn Richelieu; Rolando Molina - Mover; Erinn Bartlett - Donna; Gloria Grant - Party Guest; Charlotte Colavin - Charity Dinner Guest; Lynn Wanlass - Pasadenan Wife; Marcia Ann Burrs - Pasadenan Wife; Gregory White - Party Guest; Mike Baldridge - Reporter; Jaime Ray Newman - Conference Greeter; Carmela Rappazo - Party Planner; Mary Anne McGarry - Pasadenan Wife; Erinn Hayes - Wedding Coordinator; Jennifer Wade - Nikki; Kate McClafferty - Bridesmaid; Trevor Stock - Young Beau; Jake Mailey - Party Guest; Allyson Bradford - Bridesmaid; Christopher Stapleton - Bartender; George F. Regas - Pastor; John Sterling Carter - Conference Attendee; Donna Cooper - Reporter; Erin McDonald - Waitress; Amos Levkovitch - Magician; John E. Byrd - Doorman; Robert Lanza - New Year's Eve M.C.
Credit
Thomas P. Wilkins - Art Director, Gary Thomas - Boom Operator, Jane Jenkins - Casting, Janet Hirshenson - Casting, Joann Fregalette Jansen - Choreography, Pete Anthony - Conductor, Frank Capra III - Co-producer, Kym Barrett - Costume Designer, Frank Capra III - First Assistant Director, Mike Topoozian - First Assistant Director, Rob Reiner - Director, Robert Leighton - Editor, George Clooney - Executive Producer, Jennifer Fox - Executive Producer, Michael Rachmil - Executive Producer, Steven Soderbergh - Executive Producer, Bruce Berman - Executive Producer, Len Amato - Executive Producer, Robert Kirby - Executive Producer, Cydney Cornell - Hair Styles, Elle Elliott - Hair Styles, Chris McMillan - Hair Styles, David Israel - Location Manager, Marc Shaiman - Composer (Music Score), Nellie McKay - Composer (Music Score), Chris Douridas - Musical Direction/Supervision, Ben Nye, Jr. - Makeup, Valli O'Reilly - Makeup, Vera Yurtchuk - Makeup, Francisco X. Perez - Makeup, Marty Layton - Camera Operator, Bob Gorelick - Camera Operator, Tom Sanders - Production Designer, Peter Deming - Cinematographer, Paula Weinstein - Producer, Ben Cosgrove - Producer, Deborah Ricketts - Research, Josh Lusby - Set Designer, James Yarmer - Set Designer, Scott LaRue - Sound/Sound Designer, Dick Ziker - Stunts Coordinator, John Robotham - Stunts Coordinator, Richard J. Gelfand - Unit Production Manager, Ted Griffin - Screenwriter, T.M. Griffin - Screenwriter, Eric Durst - Visual Effects Supervisor, Geoffrey G. Rubay - Sound Effects Editor, Dino R. Dimuro - Sound Effects Editor, Dave Esparaza - Sound Effects Editor, Spooky Stevens - Publicist, Alan R. Disler - First Assistant Camera, David Eubank - First Assistant Camera, Philip M. Sloan - Key Grip, Stephanie Lowry - Music Editor, Scott Stambler - Music Editor, Tricia Miles - Post Production Supervisor, Sean Mannion - Properties Master, Marc Fishman - Re-Recording Mixer, Tony Lamberti - Re-Recording Mixer, Tricia Ronten - Script Supervisor, Gregory Kent Simmons - Second Assistant Director, Basil Grillo - Second Assistant Director, Joe Ramsey - Special Effects Coordinator, Bob Gorelick - Steadicam Operator, Melissa Moseley - Still Photographer, Lon Bender - Supervising Sound Editor, Barbara Gordon - Costume/Wardrobe, Dalhia Schuette - Costume/Wardrobe, Sabine Huber - Costume/Wardrobe, Phillip Howard - Costume/Wardrobe, Annie Laoparadonchai - Costume/Wardrobe, Andrew DeCristofaro - ADR Editor, Jason George - ADR Editor, Eric Gotthelf - ADR Mixer, Bob Deschaine - ADR Mixer, Robert Strohmaier - Assistant Art Director, Eric Sandlin - Assistant Chief Lighting Technician, Jun C. Lin - Assistant Location Manager, Jamie Daly - Assistant Location Manager, Michael Masumoto - Assistant Location Manager, Rachel Watkins - Assistant Location Manager, Michael Glynn - Assistant Properties, Patrick Cusack - Assistant Sound Editor, Paul Wilkowsky - Best Boy Grip, Michelle Lewitt - Casting Associate, Michael La Violette - Chief Lighting Technician, Michael Diersing - Construction Coordinator, Lisa Nora LöVass - Costumes Supervisor, Christopher Hogan - Dialogue Editor, Nancy Kyong Nugent - Dialogue Editor, Michael Hertlein - Dialogue Editor, Karen Vassar - Dialogue Editor, Edmond J. Coblentz - Dialogue Editor, Mitchell C. Gettleman - Dialogue Editor, Tim Collins - Dolly Grip, Jennifer Alessi - Extra Casting, Kristan Berona - Extra Casting, Jeanie Daniels - First Assistant Accountant, Dan Miller - First Assistant Editor, James Moriana - Foley Artist, Jeffrey Wilhoit - Foley Artist, Damien Smith - Foley Artist, Kerry Carmean - Foley Editor, Shawn Sykora - Foley Editor, Lisa Varetakis - Foley Editor, Jeff Brown - Greensman, Holly Davis - Key Costumer, Laura Baker - Key Costumer, Tony Velasco - Key Costumer, Lisa Quercioli - Key Costumer, Hazel Catmull - Key Hairstylist, Stephen Kelley - Key Make-up, Wayne Shepherd - Leadman, Linda Labov - Personal Assistant, Thomas Sharkey - Personal Assistant, Pamela Jones - Personal Assistant, Jasa Abreo - Personal Assistant, Dylan Ashbrook - Personal Assistant, Bostic C. Beard - Personal Assistant, Ali Blacker - Personal Assistant, Carolyn McGuinness - Personal Assistant, Ivanna Palance - Personal Assistant, Dina Reiner - Personal Assistant, Nicholas Casey - Post Production Assistant, Margaret Mitchell - Production Accountant, Lisa Ferguson - Second Assistant Camera, Eric Amundsen - Second Assistant Camera, Dieter H. Busch - Second Second Assistant Director, Jeff Bilger - Second Second Assistant Director, Mark Steven Brooks - Set Dresser, Steven Humphrey - Transportation Captain, Bruce Hauer - Transportation Coordinator, Warner Brothers Visual Effects - Visual Effects, Brett Boggs - Visual Effects, Jeremy Burns - Visual Effects, Mike Wassel - Visual Effects, Jay R. Hart - Set Decorator, David Orr - Color Timing, Brent Regan - Construction Foreman, Chef Robert Catering - Craft Service/Catering, Chance Tassone - Craft Service/Catering, Nerses Gezalyan - Foley Mixer, Mo Henry - Negative Cutter, Michael Steinbach - Production Secretary, Mike E. Landau - Production Secretary, Steve Cantamessa - Production Sound Mixer, Egan Gauntt - Art Department Coordinator, Gregg London - Assistant Editor, Jody Spilkoman - Assistant Editor, Shaun Aprahamian - Assistant Editor, Corinne Villa - Assistant Editor, Linda DeAndrea - Department Head Hair, Angela Levin - Department Head Makeup
In 1997, Sarah Huttinger, an obituary and wedding announcement writer for the New York Times, travels to Pasadena for her sister Annie's wedding accompanied by her fiancé Jeff Daly. At a pre-wedding party, Sarah learns from her grandmother Katharine that her mother Jocelyn ran off to Cabo San Lucas to spend time with her prep school classmate Beau Burroughs the week before her wedding to Sarah's father Earl. Jeff points out Sarah's parents were married just short of nine months before her birth, leading her to wonder if Beau might really be her biological father. Sarah also discovers her grandmother may have been the inspiration for Mrs. Robinson, an infamous character in the novel The Graduate.
After the wedding, determined to find out more about Beau and her mother's past, Sarah decides to fly to San Francisco, where Beau, now a highly successful and very wealthy Silicon ValleyInternet wizard, is addressing a seminar. She meets him and he admits to the affair, but assures Sarah he couldn't be her father because he suffered blunt testicular trauma while playing in a high school soccer game and as a result is sterile. The two go out for drinks, and the following morning Sarah awakens in Beau's bed in his Half Moon Bay home.
Although guilt-stricken by her behavior, Sarah allows Beau to convince her to be his date at a charity ball, where she meets Beau's son Blake. Beau explains his wife wanted a biological child and was artificially inseminated to become pregnant. Mollified, Sarah kisses Beau and is caught by Jeff, who has returned to California to find her. Following an ensuing argument, Jeff leaves her.
Dejected, Sarah returns to visit her grandmother, who flies into a rage when she learns Beau has slept with her. The two learn Annie suffered an anxiety attack while flying to her honeymoon and wants to talk to Sarah. Sarah tells her sister about the relationship three generations of Richelieu women have had with Beau. She reassures Annie she truly is in love with her husband Scott and in doing so realizes she's ready to marry Jeff.
Earl reveals to Sarah he always knew about Jocelyn and Beau's affair. Despite Beau being an adventure to her, Jocelyn returned to Earl because she loved him and he was someone with whom she could build a life. On the night she returned, Sarah was conceived. This explained the date difference between her birthday and her parents wedding.
Determined to win Jeff back, Sarah returns to New York City and tells her fiance of her feelings. They reconcile on the condition if they ever have a daughter, she won't be allowed anywhere near Beau. The film ends with Sarah and Jeff's wedding.
Production
Screenwriter Ted Griffin was the original director, but problems arose soon after principal filming began on July 21, 2004. The production fell several days behind schedule in the first week, and on August 5, Griffin fired cinematographer Ed Lachman from the project. Griffin was let go by executive producer Steven Soderbergh the following day, and the production shut down in order to allow replacement Rob Reiner make script, cast, and crew changes before resuming filming on August 18. Original cast members Charlie Hunnam, Lesley Ann Warren, Tony Bill, and Greta Scacchi were replaced by Reiner [1].
A.O. Scott of the New York Times said, "I suppose Rumor Has It could be worse, though at the moment I'm at a loss to say just how. Ms. MacLaine and Mr. Costner are seasoned professionals, giving lackluster laugh lines more juice than they deserve, and Jennifer Aniston is as plucky and engaging as ever . . . [but her] efforts are wasted in a movie that can't even seem to sustain interest in itself." [2]
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times observed, "The plot ... sounds like a gimmick. That's because it is a gimmick. But it's a good gimmick. And Rumor Has It works for good reasons, including sound construction and the presence of Kevin Costner ... a natural actor with enormous appeal ... This is not a great movie, but it's very watchable and has some good laughs. The casting of Aniston is crucial, because she's the heroine of this story, and ... has the presence to pull it off." [3]
Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chronicle said, "The movie has that fatal triptych that is becoming Reiner's romantic-comedy signature: drippy sentiment, zany scenes that trivialize the characters and a horror of adventure ... needless to say, Rumor Has It fails as a successor to The Graduate. It fails artistically but also philosophically, in that it rebuts the spirit of the earlier film, while offering nothing attractive in its place." [4]
Peter Travers of Rolling Stone awarded it one out of four stars, calling it a "comic turd" and adding, "The creepy script, by T.M. Griffin, is directed by Rob Reiner in a sleepwalking daze that Costner emulates by rotely repeating his performance in The Upside of Anger and in the process squeezing all the juice." [5]
Brian Lowry of Variety said, "As muddled in most respects as its title, Rumor Has It... begins with an intriguing premise ... but it devolves into a bland romance spiced with too little comedy ... There's a germ of an idea here, but Reiner and Griffin race through the plot beats so rapidly that poor Sarah seldom has time to breathe, which also describes the movie ... [Aniston] never settles down enough to offer more than a shrill whine and pained expression." [6]
Box office
The film opened on 2,815 screens in the US on Christmas Day 2005 and earned $3,473,155 in its opening weekend. It eventually grossed $43,000,262 domestically and $45,933,300 in foreign markets for a worldwide box office total of $88,933,562 [7].
