{{other uses|Rewrite (disambiguation){{!}}Rewrite}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = The Rewrite | image = The Rewrite.jpg | alt = | caption = British release poster | director = Marc Lawrence | producer = {{Plainlist| * Liz Glotzer * Martin Shafer }} | writer = Marc Lawrence | starring = {{Plainlist| * Hugh Grant * Marisa Tomei * Bella Heathcote * J. K. Simmons * Chris Elliott * Allison Janney }} | music = Clyde Lawrence | cinematography = Jonathan Brown | editing = Ken Eluto | production_companies = {{ubl|Castle Rock Entertainment|Reserve Room}} | distributor = RLJ Entertainment | released = {{Film date|2014|06|15|Shanghai Int'l Film Festival|2015|2|13|United States}} | runtime = 106 minutes | country = United States | language = English | budget = | gross = $4.5 million<ref name="BOM">{{cite web |url= https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt2509850/?ref_=bo_se_r_1 |title=The Rewrite (2016) |website= Box Office Mojo |accessdate=October 2, 2016}}</ref> }}
'''''The Rewrite''''' is a 2014 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Marc Lawrence. It stars Hugh Grant as a washed-up screenwriter who begins teaching at Binghamton University, and Marisa Tomei as a single mother with whom the screenwriter finds romance. It began development at Castle Rock Entertainment in October 2012, and filming began in New York in April 2013.
''The Rewrite'' premiered at the Shanghai International Film Festival on {{nowrap|June 15}}, 2014, and was released in the United States on February 13, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bupipedream.com/release/46914/binghamton-set-movie-8216the-rewrite8217-to-screen-on-campus-with-star-hugh-grant-and-director-marc-lawrence/|title=Binghamton-set movie 'The Rewrite' to screen on campus with star Hugh Grant and director Marc Lawrence|date=30 January 2015|website=Bupipedream.com|accessdate=10 September 2017}}</ref> The film received mixed reviews from critics.
==Plot== Keith Michaels is a divorced and depressed screenwriter whose only successful work was ''Paradise Misplaced'', which won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay fifteen years ago. Unemployed and low on funds after a long period of unsuccessful pitching, he reluctantly takes up a job teaching screenwriting at Binghamton University in Upstate New York.
On arrival, Keith angers fellow professor Mary Weldon with derogatory comments about Jane Austen and other misogynistic behavior; he also strikes up an unethical relationship with a young undergraduate student, Karen Gabney, which ends quickly. Keith also does not believe in the concept of teaching and is scornful of his job, as exemplified by his selecting mostly women students for his class based solely on their appearance and then dismissing the class for a month.
After being publicly challenged by an outraged Karen about his competence, Keith starts to devote more time and effort to coaching his students and helping them discover their passion and improve their writing; he finds great potential in Clem Ronson, a shy and awkward nerd, whose script quickly garners the interest of Keith’s agent, Ellen.
Keith also forms a friendship with mature student Holly Carpenter, a single mother of two who is in a steady but unloving relationship. They often disagree on their perspectives on life, where Keith believes that nothing will salvage his failing career or mend his relationship with his estranged son Alex, whereas Holly maintains an optimistic outlook on life and believes that with effort, talents can be developed and problems can be solved. Despite their differences, Keith finds enlightenment in Holly’s advice and makes the first move in contacting Alex.
However, Keith’s problems worsen when his outline for ''Paradise Misplaced II'' gets rejected and he faces expulsion from the school after his short-lived relationship with Karen is exposed. In frustration, Keith gets into an argument with Holly and decides to leave the school. As a last parting gesture, he accompanies Clem to Manhattan to meet with Hollywood film producers. Halfway through the meeting, Keith has an epiphany about how he has helped his students and, leaving a newly confident Clem to resume the meeting by himself, he heads back to Binghamton to save his job — which he manages to do with a sincere apology to Professor Weldon.
In a revelation of his renewed priorities, Keith expresses admiration for Holly’s determination in life and they show a mutual interest in each other. He also declines Ellen's invitation to return to Hollywood, as he has decided to stay in Binghamton to teach and write a screenplay based on his experience there; and he tells Ellen not to call during class hours.
Keith is welcomed back warmly by his students and apologizes to them for the confusing almost leaving, and then coming back. The film ends with Keith's phone flashing with a voicemail from Alex.
==Cast== * Hugh Grant as Keith Michaels * Marisa Tomei as Holly Carpenter * Bella Heathcote as Karen Gabney * Allison Janney as Prof. Mary Weldon * J. K. Simmons as Dr. Hal Lerner * Chris Elliott as Jim Harper * Aja Naomi King as Rosa Tejeda * Karen Pittman as Naomi Watkins * Steven Kaplan as Clem Ronson * Annie Qian as Sara Liu * Caroline Aaron as Ellen * Olivia Luccardi as Chloe * Jason Antoon as Greg Nathan * Damaris Lewis as Maya * Andrew Keenan-Bolger as Billy Frazier
== Production ==
''The Rewrite'' is written and directed by Marc Lawrence, with development becoming at Castle Rock Entertainment. In October 2012, Hugh Grant was cast in the film's starring role, marking the fourth collaboration between Lawrence and Grant: ''Two Weeks Notice'', ''Music and Lyrics'', and ''Did You Hear About the Morgans?''.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Siegel | first=Tatiana | url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hugh-grant-star-marc-lawrences-381612 | title=Hugh Grant to Star in Marc Lawrence's Untitled Romantic Comedy for Castle Rock | journal=The Hollywood Reporter | date=October 22, 2012 }}</ref> Grant said, "I love Marc's stuff, and [''The Rewrite''] made me laugh. [I wasn't interested] in the sort of marketed, Hallmark, 'Valentine's Day' sense — I find that repugnant. Here, the romantic comedy part of it is only a small part; it's about this broken guy who mends himself."<ref name=Canfield-Feb15>{{cite web|url=http://www.indiewire.com/article/hugh-grant-says-he-finds-most-romantic-comedies-repugnant-at-the-rewrite-premiere-20150211|title=Hugh Grant Says He Finds Most Romantic Comedies 'Repugnant' at 'The Rewrite' Premiere - IndieWire|first=David|last=Canfield|website=Indiewire |date=February 11, 2015 |accessdate=10 September 2017}}</ref>
In November 2012, Marisa Tomei entered negotiations to star opposite Grant.<ref>{{cite news | last=Foreman | first=Liza | url=http://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/marisa-tomei-gets-romantic-hugh-grant-untitled-marc-lawrence-project-exclusive-66111 | title=Marisa Tomei Could Get Romantic With Hugh Grant in 'Untitled Marc Lawrence Project' | work=The Wrap | date=November 21, 2012 | accessdate=July 16, 2013 }}</ref> In the following March, Bella Heathcote joined the cast. ''Variety'' reported, "This film would give Heathcote some lighter material after breaking out in serious projects," referring to ''In Time'' and ''Not Fade Away''.<ref>{{cite journal | last=McNary | first=Dave | url=https://variety.com/2013/more/news/bella-heathcote-back-to-school-in-laffer-exclusive-1200005145/ | title=Bella Heathcote Back to School in Laffer | journal=Variety | date=March 7, 2013 }}</ref> Later in the month, Allison Janney, J. K. Simmons, and Chris Elliott joined the cast.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Cox | first=Gordon | url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/j-k-simmons-chris-elliott-join-hugh-grant-comedy-1200329664/ | title=J.K. Simmons, Chris Elliott Join Hugh Grant Comedy | journal=Variety | date=March 27, 2013 }}</ref>
Filming began in New York in April 2013.<ref>{{cite news | last=Hanna | first=Beth | url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompsononhollywood/casting-watch-jk-simmons | title=Hugh Grant's Return to Rom-Com, Untitled Marc Lawrence Film, Goes Into Production | work=Indiewire | date=April 17, 2013 | accessdate=July 17, 2013 }}</ref> Several scenes were shot at Binghamton University on August 3, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shamsian |first=Jacob |date=February 13, 2015 |title=The Making of 'The Rewrite' |url=https://www.bupipedream.com/ac/the-making-of-8216the-rewrite8217/48054/ |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=Pipe Dream}}</ref>
==Release== FilmNation Entertainment handled sales of ''The Rewrite''{{'}}s distribution in territories outside the United States.<ref>{{cite journal | last=McNary | first=Dave | url=https://variety.com/2013/film/news/filmnation-to-handle-marc-lawrence-comedy-1118065047/ | title=FilmNation to handle Marc Lawrence comedy | journal=Variety | date=January 23, 2013 }}</ref> The film premiered at a gala screening at the Shanghai International Film Festival on {{nowrap|June 15}}, 2014.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Frater | first=Patrick | url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/nicole-kidman-hugh-grant-jackie-chan-among-stars-set-to-shine-at-shanghai-festival-1201212222/ | title=Nicole Kidman, Hugh Grant, Jackie Chan Among Stars Set to Shine at Shanghai Festival | journal=Variety | date=June 4, 2014 | accessdate=June 16, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.siff.com/Schedule/GGBViewen.aspx | title=The 17th Shanghai International Film Festival – Schedule of Shanghai International Film Festival | work=siff.com | publisher=Shanghai International Film Festival | accessdate=June 16, 2014 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723110642/http://www.siff.com/Schedule/GGBViewen.aspx | archivedate=July 23, 2011 }}</ref> Distributor Lionsgate scheduled the film to be released in theaters in the United Kingdom on {{nowrap|October 8}}, 2014.<ref>{{cite news | last=Jagernauth | first=Kevin | url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/watch-first-trailer-for-rom-com-the-rewrite-starring-hugh-grant-and-marisa-tomei-20140828 | title=Watch: First Trailer For Rom-Com 'The Rewrite' Starring Hugh Grant And Marisa Tomei | work=The Playlist | publisher=Indiewire | date=August 28, 2014 | accessdate=August 30, 2014 }}</ref> The University of Binghamton held screenings of the film on February 7 and 8, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 January 2015 |title=Binghamton-set movie 'The Rewrite' to screen on campus with star Hugh Grant and director Marc Lawrence |url=https://www.bupipedream.com/ac/46914/binghamton-set-movie-8216the-rewrite8217-to-screen-on-campus-with-star-hugh-grant-and-director-marc-lawrence/ |website=Pipe Dream}}</ref>
===Critical response=== On review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 66% based on 62 reviews, with an average rating of 6/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "''The Rewrite'''s unremarkable plot is enlivened considerably by its likable cast, adding up to a comedy that coasts capably on the charms of Hugh Grant and his co-stars."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_rewrite |title= The Rewrite (2016) |website= Rotten Tomatoes |accessdate=September 29, 2016}}</ref> On Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating, the film has a score 51 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-rewrite |title= The Rewrite reviews|website=Metacritic|accessdate=October 2, 2016}}</ref>
''The Hollywood Reporter''{{'}}s Elizabeth Kerr said ''The Rewrite'' was not groundbreaking as a romantic comedy but that "it is a pleasant diversion for fans of the form". Kerr considered the film an improvement from ''Did You Hear About the Morgans?'' (2009) and said while it was initially similar to ''Liberal Arts'' (2012) with "its aggressive academic and literary tone", it fell back on romantic comedy conventions. She found that Grant "embraces his maturity" as an older version of his typical character but that Tomei's character was "painfully underwritten". Kerr said the supporting characters would have been forgettable if the actors were not so strong.<ref>{{cite journal | last=Kerr | first=Elizabeth | url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/rewrite-shanghai-review-712395 | title='The Rewrite': Shanghai Review | journal=The Hollywood Reporter | date=June 18, 2014 | accessdate=June 19, 2014 }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
{{Marc Lawrence}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rewrite, The}} Category:2014 films Category:2014 American films Category:2014 romantic comedy films Category:2014 English-language films Category:American romantic comedy films Category:Castle Rock Entertainment films Category:English-language romantic comedy films Category:Films about educators Category:Films about screenwriters Category:Films directed by Marc Lawrence Category:Films with screenplays by Marc Lawrence Category:Films set in New York (state) Category:Films set in universities and colleges Category:Films shot in New York (state) Category:Films shot in New York City