Leap Year
Directed by: Anand Tucker
Cast: Amy Adams, Matthew Goode, Adam Scott, John Lithgow
Running Time: 1 hr 35 mins
Rating: PG
Release Date: January 8, 2010
PLOT: A strong-minded woman (Adams) hears about an old Irish tradition where woman can propose to men on Leap Day. So, with her boyfriend (Scott) already in Ireland at a conference, she takes off after him but gets stuck and must enlist the help of a new man (Goode), who she suddenly has feeling for.
WHO'S IT FOR? If you've been waiting for your man to put a ring on your finger, there will probably be some value in this film. If you're simply a fan of romantic comedies, would should probably just rent something.
EXPECTATIONS: Amy Adams is a charmer, but nothing about this movie looks particularly fresh. Then again, with Lithgow along for the ride, it could be entertaining.
SCORECARD (0-10)
ACTORS:
Amy Adams as Anna: Has the shine worn off on Adams? She started off great with Junebug, Enchanted, Sunshine Cleaning and my favorite, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. But now, after the Night at the Museum sequel, her part in the otherwise good Julie & Julia and now Leap Year. It seems they needed a red head. Adams beats Isla Fisher, so there you go. The problem comes when they thought all they had to do was cast the normally charming Adams. They didn't give her anything to do. I actually blame Adams a little more than the movie though. After reading the script, she knew she was getting into something lame. I rarely notice or care about hair, but Adams clearly is auditioning for a Shampoo commercial. Score: 4
Matthew Goode as Declan: Tis a might fine Irish gent we have here folks. You'll never guess this, when Anna gets to Ireland, and must travel across the country, it's Declan who must help. And here's the kicker ... they don't get along. Can you believe it? He's the cab driver even though he also runs a restaurant, which doesn't make sense. Nor does it make sense that Declan keeps fighting with Anna considering he needs her money more than anything else. There is something slightly intriguing about him, but it's not enough to make much of a difference. Score: 5
Adam Scott as Jeremy: Um, yeah, I'm not seeing what the problem is with Jeremy. I know it's not real life, but it seems like he has a firm understanding of his relationship with Anna. Have the two of them never talked about the next step? Why not? I actually felt a little sorry for him. Clearly Anna is going through some sort of escapism issue, and Jeremy happens to be the fall guy. Poor cardiologist. Score: 5
John Lithgow as Jack: Wait a minute. He's the fourth on the bill. He's in the movie right? Wrong. I didn't have my stopwatch out, but I think it was 1 minute, 24 seconds. Lithgow plays Anna's father, who clearly doesn't have much going for him. This is Anna's reason for being a severe control freak who must have everything planned out. I really don't care about that, what I care about is, if you promise me Lithgow, I WANT Lithgow. Score: 2
TALKING: The first 10 minutes are meant to show us how much Anna has everything in her life under control. She likes it that way. So having her slowly evolve into someone who is careful never fully makes sense. They never really try to explain anything after those first 10 minutes. Anna and Declan bicker. Why? Just because. The film doesn't really even get into the idea of a woman taking charge with the marriage idea is something that doesn't have the stigma that it once did. Score: 2
SIGHTS: Ireland looks good. It seems they are actually there in the country. And if they are already there, why in the world are they giving us a green screen? First, it's really obviously fake when they are driving on the country road before the cows get involved. Even worse, the moment Anna and Declan are supposed to be finally falling for each other, at the top of an old castle, it's clearer fake. Just awful. Again, the rest of Ireland looks pretty good. Score: 5
SOUNDS: Where are my Irish jigs? Just one at a wedding? Shouldn't it just be songs coming from the country if you are trying to showcase how great and magical Ireland is? Instead, we get some soft pop songs which are forgotten as soon as they are heard. Score: 3
PLOT SPOILERS
BEST SCENE: I did laugh. Once. There was some good comedy coming from Adams when she first gets into the "hotel" room at Declan's place. Everything went wrong. She broke the bed, the drapes, the dresser and most importantly the entire town's electricity.
ENDING: For one second, I thought it could present me with a little surprise. Then for another second it looked like Anna might go over the edge (literally). The ending is unfortunately as basic as you can imagine.
QUESTIONS: Why did Anna only have heels? Why did Declan stay with her? There was absolutely no reason.
REWATCHABILITY: Sorry, this won't be happening. Though I am positive I will have a moment in the future where this film is playing on an airplane, and the woman next to me just thinks it's the cutest thing ever. I hate that woman.
OVERALL
I need some response on this one. Besides your wedding, how many times have you been forced to kiss your partner? Now, here's a follow up ... How many times have you been forced to kiss someone who you're not even with? Apparently, in movie land, this happens all the time. Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock had to peck, and suddenly they develop feelings for each other. Leap Year does it one better. An old man screams at Anna and Declan to kiss over and over again. It feels like something that should be against the law instead of endearing. This movie is filled with absolutely lazy romantic comedy moments. There's only ONE bed! Oops they missed the train. Look a wedding, let's stay instead of racing off to my boyfriend. Step away from the movie for a second and you realize Anna needs escape from her previous life even though it seems fine to us. What she doesn't need is a new man, who really doesn't seem like he can offer her much adventure. Come next Leap Year I don't expect this couple to still be together.
FINAL SCORE: 3/10