Can a fictional novel inspire a real-life family crisis across three generations?
In short: The 2005 romantic comedy Rumor Has It explores a bizarre premise: a woman discovers her mother and grandmother may have been the real-life inspiration for the classic novel The Graduate. What begins as a search for biological truth spirals into an awkward, multi-generational entanglement with a single wealthy man.
Directed by Rob Reiner and starring Jennifer Aniston, the film follows Sarah Huttinger, who returns to Pasadena for her sister's wedding. She learns that her late mother, Jocelyn, had an affair with a man named Beau Burroughs just before marrying Sarah's father. Sarah suspects Beau might be her biological father, especially after discovering her parents were married only nine months before her birth. Her investigation leads her to San Francisco, where she encounters Beau, a successful Silicon Valley figure who admits to having had intimate relationships with both her mother and grandmother.
The production of the film was notoriously turbulent. Screenwriter Ted Griffin began as the director but was replaced by Rob Reiner in August 2004 after the production fell behind schedule and key crew members were fired. Reiner subsequently overhauled the script, cast, and crew, replacing actors like Charlie Hunnam and Lesley Ann Warren. Despite the high-profile cast, the film was a box office disappointment, grossing approximately $88.9 million against a $70 million budget.
Critical reception was largely negative, with the film holding a 21% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics like Mick LaSalle argued the film failed both artistically and philosophically by attempting to riff on The Graduate while lacking its spirit. Others, such as Roger Ebert, found the central gimmick watchable, though the film was widely criticized for being lightweight and failing to sustain interest. Ultimately, the story concludes with Sarah reconciling with her fiancé, Jeff, leaving behind the chaotic legacy of her family's history with Beau.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Rumor Has It (film)
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