Larry Crowne (2011 Tom Hanks)

Film is as insubstantial as a doughnut made without flour. Only two sticky bits stay in the memory. One is George Takei's most enjoyable economics teacher, who keeps wondering why his class isn't laughing (though oddly enough, when they do finally laugh, it's gooey and somehow ruins it). The other is a great little speech by Hanks about his life in the navy. And that's it.

Plot is, Hanks loses job in hardware store (where, it seems, he is eminently qualified), goes to college, meeting disillusioned teacher Julia Roberts and annoyingly free-spirited pupil Gugu Mbatha-Raw (I kid you not) who is a member of a scooter gang (ditto), and becomes better (at?.. public speaking), whilst holding down job as short order cook (again, eminently qualified) all without any sign of hardship (cf. Precious I dare you).

Support from Cedric the Entertainer (I know), Pam Grier, Taraji Henson (in the slightest of roles), Mrs Hanks Rita Wilson.