Let me start off by saying that I am a firm believer in the phrase “Midwest Is Best.”
In case you haven’t noticed the publicity storm, Lionsgate is releasing a new film on Friday by the name of New In Town. In fact, you might be going to see it this weekend….
The film stars Renee Zellweger as a corporate climbing woman in Miami who, in an effort to land a promotion, takes on the task of restructuring a failing manufacturing plant. When she arrives in what the film calls “the middle of nowhere,” or as I like to call it, Minnesota, she is faced with small town life, snow, ice, and freezing temps for the first time.
Don’t worry. Harry Connick, Jr’s character is there to keep her warm. Yep. It’s a romantic comedy.
When the publicist for the film originally contacted me, I think she thought I would be able to relate to Zellweger’s character, and that as my reader, you would be able to, as well. But that isn’t the case…. at least not for me.
I don’t own any shoes that cost more than most people make in a week. I don’t own any power suits. And I’m not after any corporate promotions…
I haven’t seen the film yet, but I bet I can relate to the townspeople in this movie. I mean, I’m from Flint, Michigan. “Failing Manufacturing Plant” is our middle name. I know exactly what it’s like to live in a small Midwestern town. I’ve got snow, ice, and freezing temps.
I’ve never rode in a limo, but I have been on the back of a snowmobile. I’ve never been to a super-fancy nightclub. You may actually be familiar with my favorite bar already. You know the scene in SemiPro, near the end of the movie, where they all pile in to that little bar called The Torch that sits in the back alley? Yep. It’s a real bar here in Flint and that’s where I like to go. (they even have veggie burgers for you veggies / vegans out there. and the fries are the bomb!)
Like I said, I haven’t seen this movie yet. But I’m sure it will have a nice, happy ending. The main characters will fall in love and somehow, everything is going to work out just fine.
So when you go see this movie, will you do me a favor? Try to remember that the ‘middle of nowhere’ town they’re showing really isn’t the middle of nowhere. (I’ve lived in Alaska. I know where the middle of nowhere is located.)
There are lots of little towns all across the Midwest with failing manufacturing plants. We actually do exist. And we’re not all a bunch of hicks.
So go see the movie and have a good time…. and then go home and write your Senator and tell them you want to see all of these failing manufacturing plants thriving again! (yeah, I’m trying to make you laugh. but it would be awesome if you really did that.)
(P.S. One of the big reasons I think the Midwest Is Best is because of the MUSIC! The phrase rock n’ roll was coined by a dj in OHIO for cryin’ out loud. The Midwest is home to Motown, Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, Madonna, Liz Phair, Eminem, just to name a few… and what about the modern rock bands, including Fall Out Boy, Plain White T’s, Hawthorne Heights, The Academy Is, and many more, including my personal favorite Motion City Soundtrack. Honestly. The Van’s Warped Tour could practically change it’s name to the “Hey, Most Of These Bands Are From The Midwest Tour.” Seriously! See? Not all of us are hicks!)
Awesome! I think Midwest is BEST also. I live in KY now, but I was raised in OH. And let me clarify for the record that KY isn’t as bad as people think. I know plenty of people who are fabulous and they have all their own teeth!
xo
Couldn’t help being annoyed with the news on “New in Town” on my home page.
Probably a sweet sorrow type of annoyance. Making fun of the best that life offers in the Midwest small town atmosphere will likely keep the street corner “wit” from the big cities away from this Eden. I’ve traveled extensively in my 29 year military career and lived the Big Cities including New York City. There is nowhere to compare the quality of life here in the midwest small town. I somehow hope no one believes me so the trash and skeptics will stay away.
Thanks for the laugh, Bridget! One of my friends moved to the Ohio / Kentucky border. I’m going to have to tell her that line. I’m sure she’ll agree with you. : )
I Iive in Maysville. Renee graced us with her presence for the Premiere of George Clooney’s (grew up in Augusta, ky) film Leatherheads. George came home to premiere his film.
Our town is quite lovely. Rosemary Clooney is from here. That is our claim to fame.
I love Rosemary Clooney. Her music has a home on my iPod
I never got into George, though. When I was in elementary school, he played the handyman on Facts of Life. I thought he was really old. When I was in middle school, he was the foreman at the plant on Roseanne. I thought he was really old. So by the time high school rolled around and he was playing a doctor on ER, I figured he was really freaking old!
At 17, I was into boys who skateboarded and played guitar, not some dude in this thirties who played a doctor on tv….
And I have nothing against Renee Zellweger. She can handle any role she’s thrown, from Nurse Betty to White Oleander to Cinderella Man to Bridget Jones…
She dated Jack White of The White Stripes for a long time (forgot to mention that band in my ode to Midwest Music.) Renee has spent A LOT of time here in Michigan. From what I gather, she was always nice and down to earth.
Now, when Pamela Anderson was dating Kid Rock… well, I have some stories about how she behaved when she was around the locals … but I won’t tell ’em : )
Love the Midwest. Was born there so I’m not exactly impartial. Wonderful schools, great culture, fond memories of Minneapolis and Chicago.
After reading the news about Mount Redoubt this morning, I’m thinking you escaped just in time!
-H4S
I’ve driven through Minneapolis on many occasions and have had layovers there, but I haven’t had the chance to explore the city yet. I spent the night in St. Paul once. It was raining and looked kind of shady. So I stayed in the hotel room…
I love Chicago and am considering moving there one day…. we’ll see.
As for Mt. Redoubt, I wish I was there to see it explode. For those that don’t know what we’re talking about, Mt. Redoubt is the volcano that my street in Alaska was named for. I saw it every day. And as I write this, it is getting ready to explode. Alaskan volcanoes don’t have hot, steamy lava, but they do have a lot of ash. It may sound very dangerous, but I do feel as though I am missing out! I want to see my volcano erupt, for cryin’ out loud!