Tom Hanks co-wrote, directed, and stars as Larry Crowne, a recently divorced Navy vet who gets canned from his megastore job because he lacks the education to rise in the company. Determined to never be left in the wind again, Larry goes to community college. He takes classes in economics and public speaking and develops a crush on the cynical speech teacher, Mercedes (Julia Roberts). With a new style and his natural charm, there ain't no stoppin' Larry! The smiles are brief and schmaltzy, sure, but there are still plenty of them.