New in Town
New in Town is a 2009 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Jonas Elmer, starring Renée Zellweger, Harry Connick Jr., and Siobhan Fallon Hogan. It was filmed in Winnipeg and Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada, and in Los Angeles and South Beach, Miami, Florida.
Miami business exec Lucy Hill is sent to a small Minnesota town to oversee the downsizing of a plant, but is soon won over by the locals.
Despite negative reviews, the film achieved a mild box office success, earning $30 million against its $8 million budget.
Plot
High-powered consultant Lucy Hill, who loves her upscale Miami lifestyle, is sent to New Ulm, Minnesota, to oversee the restructuring of a food manufacturing plant. The factory is meant to add Japanese automation, so reduce staff by at least 50 percent.After leaving sunny Miami and arriving in cold Minnesota, Lucy finds a frosty reception from the weather, the locals, icy roads and a culture she has difficulty dealing with. As an example, before her first day at the factory she proceeds to insult a Ted Mitchell, the guest of honor at a home-cooked meal organized by the plant's secretary Blanche. The next day, Ted turns out to be the head of the workers' union. Likewise, she antagonizes the waitress in the local hangout, Flo. She turns out to be the ex-wife of the plant's foreman STU, who she will fire.
Lucy learns to appreciate the locals and their way of life, and vice versa. In one of various scenes, Ted in his pickup truck rescues her from freezing when she gets stuck in the snow as she swerves to evade a cow wandering on the road. Later, Lucy's knowledge about fashion and style helps Ted's 13-year-old daughter to get ready for her first dance. Eventually, Lucy kisses Ted as they acknowledge their mutual attraction.
At a Florida corporate meeting, Lucy is ordered to close down the plant, which will put the entire community out of work. Blanche finds her on her return, to confront her about a list she inadvertantly found in the office of employees to fire. Lucy unhappily reveals now the company plans to shut it down completely. She is forced to reconsider her goals and priorities, and find a way to save the town.
After getting another big bowl of tapioca pudding, prepared according to Blanche's healthier secret recipe, Lucy gets the bright idea to have the company make and market the product. This she does by using their former yogurt production line and the existing personnel.
When the tapioca becomes extremely successful, Lucy's company again wants to shut down the small Minnesota plant, which cannot produce enough for the national market they envision. However, instead Lucy puts together a group of financiers who purchase the plant, with a contract that will gradually transfer ownership to the employees.
As part of the deal, Lucy becomes the CEO. Lucy announces the purchase to the employees gathered on the plant floor, including a now clean-shaven Ted, who pledges the cooperation of the Union. Lucy and Ted seal the deal with a kiss, applauded by everyone.