‘Leap Year’ is a Medium-Well Romantic Comedy
-----95% of romantic comedies these days read from the same script. While ‘Leap Year’ is no exception to that rule, it’s at least an enjoyable interpretation of the same old story. With some saving grace chemistry and lush Irish locations, it steadily rises above the average romantic comedy. And while that’s not saying much, the film is enjoyable enough to constitute a rent for those interested.
-----Anna is ready to commit. When her boyfriend’s latest probable proposal proves to be nothing more than earrings, she decides to take action herself by way of an old Irish tradition. Her boyfriend is currently in Ireland on business, so Anna decides to take advantage of the situation by heading out there on a surprise visit and asking him to marry her. And it’s all wrapped safely within the failsafe tradition of the woman asking the man on February 29th in Ireland, a day which exists only during a ‘Leap Year.’ However, when bad weather threatens to thwart her trip to Dublin, she teams up with an Irish slacker named Declan to get her there. And as the poster featuring Anna and Declan so cleverly states, he is “not her boyfriend.”
-----The endlessly energetic Amy Adams plays the uptight Anna Brady. Oddly enough, the costume designers and hair dressers managed to neutralize her good looks during large sections of the film, a fact barely salvaged as the story proceeds. Nonetheless, while her cliché-ridden character does manage to be annoying at times, especially during those involving the infamously recycled rom-com script, she pulls through with a bit of charm in the third act as her chemistry with costar Matthew Goode peaks in development. Goode is also good, as the film’s laidback lead male. While he starts out a bit too hit-or-miss in the comedy section he, like Adams, is able to pull his act together in time to get some genuine chemistry going with his costar. And though their slapstick humor varies from painful to enjoyable, there’s little denying that audiences actually want to see them get together in the end. That may sound stupid, but take a look at something like ‘Did You Hear About the Morgans?’ and you’ll realize it’s hardly a given.
-----Perhaps the true hero of this romantic comedy is the decision to film on location. Unlike the aforementioned ‘Did You Hear About the Morgans?’ which didn’t film in Wyoming despite the plot revolving around the location, ‘Leap Year’s effort at authenticity brings some much needed integrity to the film; even if it does play off of some cultural stereotypes similar to the way ‘Morgans’ did. And given my trip to Ireland, I can at least attest to the effort being their on ‘Leap Year’s part, where not everyone is a redheaded-green-wearing chap, as they were cowboy hicks in ‘Morgan’s Wyoming. The film is also completely harmless, with none of the vulgarity or sensuality that turned some audiences away from solid romantic comedies like ‘The Ugly Truth.’ Amy Adams is kept completely covered up for the most part, all in keeping with the film’s soft PG rating.
-----While the locations may be a defining attribute that saved the film, the cinematography struggles. While each shot is framed nicely, and provides a cool window into the Irish landscape, the film’s struggles with on-location shooting are also painfully present. It will rain one minute, look dark the next, and suddenly the sun will come out with a morning glow; yet it has only been one day and it’s followed that exact chronological order of lighting. It seems that they worked with the weather they had, simply to hit filming deadlines, or perhaps they just couldn’t keep the time of day consistent with the narrative. Regardless, it’s an annoying distraction, but one worth having for the sake of a legitimate Irish landscape.
-----All in all there’s nothing too exciting or inventive at all about ‘Leap Year.’ It’s a cookie-cutter rom-com as it openly plays out to be, but it’s also one with a lot more charm and personal moments than most of its genre peers. Throw in the superb landscape of Ireland, likable leads, and a few solid laughs and those looking for an enjoyable romantic outing will be satisfied. ‘Leap Year’ is a solid rent for the casual viewer, and even more for those completely sold on the film’s trailer, premise, or stars.
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