Brett Banter

Tom Hanks has directed and starred in a new movie that premiers this week called "Larry Crowne." While Hanks has been coasting on the gigantic comet tail known as "Bosom Buddies" going on 25 years now, his new movie sort of underscores what is happening in America right now with middle-aged men.

No they are not driving mopeds and making out with Julia Roberts if the trailers are to be believed, they are struggling to find an America that was once promised to them. The premise of the movie is the hard-working Larry Crowne loses his job at a supermarket because he has no college degree. With no job and no prospects, he plunges into financial dire straits. However, being a plucky, gung-ho movie character, he lands on his feet in less than two hours of screen time.

Unfortunately for America there are a lot of Larry Crownes out there and most aren't landing on their feet. They aren't even landing on their knees. They're are too many of them. We know a lot of them. Most don't own a moped. They can't afford them anymore. Most never appeared in drag on a television show.

A lot of Larry Crownes.