3046. Rumor Has It… (2005)

Starring: Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Costner, Mark Ruffalo

Director: Rob Reiner

Running Time: 97 mins

Rumor Has It… is an American film about a woman who discovers that her family was the inspiration for the story made famous in The Graduate, and that she might be the descendant of the well-known event.

Meandering and at times frankly ridiculous, Rumor Has It is a romantic comedy that squanders a really good opportunity to add some deeper intrigue to cinematic lore, as well as provide some good movie meta-humour and light-hearted genre laughs.

However, despite a spirited effort from some charismatic leads, it proves a decidedly dull and predictable watch throughout, with none of the entertainment value it’s seeking.

The problem with this film is that, in trying to link itself in with the back story of a cinematic classic, you find yourself oddly muddled as to which story you’re actually meant to be following. The first act of the movie is heavily focused on reminding you of Mrs. Robinson and The Graduate, and while it’s a nice link, it means you spend less time trying to get to know the characters on screen here.

Then, when it comes to the latter part of the film, which begins to stray away from its relationship with the ’60s classic, it feels as if you’ve been cheated out of what was evolving into an enjoyable, if not rather mediocre, trip down memory lane. The romance that unfolds late on is far from gripping, and its link with The Graduate becomes all the more tenuous, making Rumor Has It really quite dull to watch.

Despite an A-list cast that features Jennifer Aniston, Mark Ruffalo, Kevin Costner and Shirley MacLaine, this movie fails entirely to make you care about its characters, and to see it as anything more than just a story trying to appeal to you purely through nostalgia for another movie.

Rumor Has It isn’t particularly funny either, and lacks the light-hearted, fluffy vibe of a good, generic romantic comedy. There really aren’t many positives to draw from it, and it all finishes in rather underwhelming fashion, which made me feel like I should have just watched The Graduate instead. So, that’s why I’m giving this movie a 5.7 overall.