Talking Pictures

Tony Toscano reviews “Leap Year”

Up front I need to say every “chick flick” is a formula, but it is how that formula is used that can make or break a romantic film.

Last year Sandra Bullock starred in two – “The Proposal,” which was widely acclaimed and “All About Steve” which was widely panned.

In the new film “Leap Year” we find Amy Adams lathering about how her boyfriend of 4 years hasn’t proposed. So now she’s going to Ireland, where he’s at a medical convention, to pop the question herself. It seems in Ireland, a woman can propose marriage on February 29^th (Leap Year).

Ok that’s the set up and now comes the hook. Due to bad weather Adams is forced to take a cab ride to Dublin from some rural city. Her cabbie is a young, carefree, individualist who is rough around the edges, etc, etc, etc.

And that’s the story. Unfortunately, the story is told in such a bland and flat manner that the audience simply doesn’t care. The humor is strained, the dialogue isn’t fresh and zany comedy just isn’t zany enough.

Leap Year just isn’t good enough for the cast, especially Amy Adams who is a marvelous actress (check out Sunshine Cleaning). She almost looks as if she’s in pain as she gallivants around the Emerald Isle trading silly barbs with Matthew Goode (who looks like a young Hugh Jackman) on her way to propose to her boyfriend.

Leap Year ends up a convoluted and pedestrian mess. It deserves a D and is rated PG for sensuality and language.

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