| New in Town | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Jonas Elmer |
| Produced by | Peter Safran Darryl Taja Tracey E. Edmonds Paul Brooks Phyllis Laing Andrew Paquin |
| Written by | C. Jay Cox Ken Rance |
| Starring | Renée Zellweger Harry Connick, Jr. Siobhan Fallon Hogan J.K. Simmons Frances Conroy |
| Music by | John Swihart |
| Cinematography | Chris Seager |
| Editing by | Troy Takaki |
| Studio | Gold Circle Films Epidemic Pictures Safran Company Edmonds Entertainmen |
| Distributed by | Lionsgate |
| Release date(s) | January 30, 2009 |
| Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $29,010,817 |
New in Town is a 2009 romantic comedy film, directed by Jonas Elmer, starring Renée Zellweger and Harry Connick Jr. It was filmed in Winnipeg and Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada, and in Los Angeles and South Beach, Miami, Florida, US.[1] The "making of..." feature on the DVD documents that the cast and crew survived bitterly cold temperatures of below −50 °F (−46 °C) in Manitoba, which sometimes resulted in malfunctions of cameras and other equipment.
Contents |
A high-powered consultant (Renée Zellweger) in love with her upscale Miami lifestyle is sent to New Ulm, Minnesota, to oversee the restructuring of a blue collar manufacturing plant. After enduring a frosty reception from the locals, icy roads and freezing weather, she warms up to the small town's charm, and eventually finds herself being accepted by the community. When she's ordered to close down the plant and put the entire community out of work, she's forced to reconsider her goals and priorities, and finds a way to save the town. After tasting her secretary's secret recipe of tapioca pudding, she decides to adapt a former yogurt production line to produce this special recipe of tapioca.
The film was released at 1,941 theaters on January 30, 2009 and grossed in its opening day approx. $2.4 million to $2.5 million.[3] By the end of the first 3-day weekend, it had grossed an estimated $6.75 million, placing it 8th for the weekend in gross box office ticket sales.
The film grossed $16,734,283 at the domestic box office, $12,276,534 at the foreign box office for a total gross of $29,010,817 worldwide.[4]
As of April 4, 2011, this film has garnered a low 27% based on 135 critic reviews and a 40% based on member reviews at Rotten Tomatoes, making it a critical flop. Allan Hunter of the Daily Express has said, "Predictable and uninspired, it is one more example of the dumb comedies that Hollywood is churning out at an alarming rate." Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian was also critical, stating "Renée Zellweger's rabbity, dimply pout - surely the strangest facial expression in Hollywood - simpers and twitches out of the screen in this moderate girly flick that adheres with almost religious fanaticism to the feelgood romcom handbook."[5]
Songs featured in trailer/TV spots:
Songs featured in the film: