McAdams personifies the definition of the word "perky" much like Mary Tyler Moore did back in the Seventies. The only other actress who comes close to her is the similarly-named Amy Adams. Both girls positively brim over with a zestful enthusiasm for life. In this day and age of vamps and tramps, it is pleasing to see that at least these two actresses have maintained an image of wholesomeness and even a kind of wide-eyed innocence that somehow remains untouched by the modern world. 

This is in spite of the fact that neither girl is overtly virginal (Amy Adams in "Enchanted" being the obvious exception). Although both actresses are over 30, it has only been a few years since each achieved star status. Rachel McAdams enjoyed her breakout role in 2004 as a teenager from a well-to-do southern family involved in a passionate affair with a charming local ne'er-do-well in "The Notebook," while Amy Adams followed with her own breakout role in 2005 as a pregnant mom in "Junebug."  

Having seen and loved both movies during their theatrical releases, it was immediately obvious to me that both girls were going to be stars as they both had the "It Factor." The camera loved them and they made love right back to the camera and by extension to us in the audience. 

Everyone did notice, and in 2005, Rachel McAdams appeared in three different movies including "The Wedding Crashers," "Red Eye," and a supporting role in the 2005 movie, "The Family Stone," a film which I liked but which was generally panned by the critics. More recently she was cast against her strengths as Irene Adler in "Sherlock Holmes," a blockbuster movie that demands a more outsized character. McAdams did the role justice, but I still feel that she was somewhat miscast here. In my opinion, McAdams does best with a larger role in a smaller movie. 

In "Morning Glory," Becky Fuller (Rachel McAdams) is driven to succeed. This is partly to make up for her incomplete educational background which makes her feel that she has to prove herself more than the others, but the reality is that Becky already has the smarts and the mental temperament to succeed. 

She doesn't look it, but Becky is a whirling dervish of activity who almost tires me out with her ability to carry six or more ideas at once in her mind and then bring them forward one by one when the time is right. Even more surprising is the control behind that sweet face which she immediately exhibits at the first staff meeting by firing the coanchor, Paul McVee (Ty Burrell from "Modern Family") because she determined that he is detrimental to office morale.

Casting about for a new co-host, Becky chances upon Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford), a forty year legend in the news business with a host of Emmys and Pulitzers to his credit. Unfortunately, Pomeroy is a crusty, grizzled news veteran who hates the sappiness of morning shows and would deign to host one even if his life depended upon it. 

But, as it turns out, his life does depend upon it. He had been fired from the IBS news division and is riding out his lucrative contract, which has almost two years to run. Becky searches through the contract and finds out that if Pomeroy turns down a legitimate news offer from IBS, then they can cancel his contract. Left with the choice of losing millions or returning to work for a frothy morning news show (he refuses to utter the word, "fluffy"), Pomeroy reluctantly returns to work. 

It would be fair to say that he lacks the proper workplace attitude, as he and coanchor Colleen Peck (Diane Keaton) argue over everything, including who will walk to whose office. Thereafter he refuses to do anything that isn't news oriented. He especially resents Becky for forcing him to come back to work, and he despises the idea of having such a young kid as his boss. It will be up to Becky to make these two work together and goose the ratings before IBS cancels the show, destroying her dream in the process. 

Adding a layer of complexity and possible romance to the plot is the recurring presence of Adam Bennett (Patrick Wilson), another producer in the building who previously had a bad experience working with Mike Pomeroy. This movie is a slight but fun film in the rom com genre. It flies by at a short 107 minutes and is rated PG-13 for some sexual content, including dialogue, language, and a brief drug reference.