WHEN IN ROME
(PG-13)
MOVIE: *** (out of 5)
BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: **1/2 (out of 5)
Studio: Touchstone
Directed by: John R. Leonetti
BY KEVIN CARR
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Kristen Bell plays a no-nonsense New Yorker who is happy with the path her career is taking, even though her dating life is in shambles. When she travels to Rome for her sister’s sudden wedding, she steals coins from a magical fountain in hopes that they will bring her luck. However, those coins cause the men who threw them in to be hopelessly in love with her. While fending off these potential suitors, she has to wonder if the one guy she likes that she met in Rome might actually be love or magic.
WHAT I LIKED
Parting ways with many a critic, I found myself really enjoying “When in Rome.” It was a fluffy, airy romantic comedy that didn’t take itself too seriously and was rather oddly plotted, but I had fun. First, it helps that Kristen Bell leads the cast because I challenge anyone to find a more adorable leading lady than she.
But the real charm of this film was the slate of bizarre suitors that set their sites on her throughout the film. Will Arnett, Dax Shepard, Jon Heder and Danny DeVito all give hilarious performances as over-the-top weirdoes vying for her affection. Whenever these guys are on screen – and yes, I also mean whenever the normally annoying Dax Shepard is on screen – the movie is a hoot.
For the romantic comedy fan, this film works. It’s not as groundbreaking as “Pretty Woman” or “When Harry Met Sally,” but it makes a sweet movie for date night.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
I’ll admit that the script seems a bit half-baked at times. There are some forced moments, especially at the end how the movie shoe-horns all the suitors together. These moment are to be expected from your standard rom com, and I didn’t mind them. This film is just a silly fantasy, after all.
Anyone who hates romantic comedies will find plenty to complain about here, but many of those things are conventions of the genre itself.
BLU-RAY FEATURES
The Blu-ray comes with some exclusive features, including an alternate opening and ending, extended scenes with the four suitors and the featuertte “Crazy Casanovas: Mischief from the Set.” Features that also appear on the DVD include bloopers, deleted scenes and two music videos.
WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Rom com fans.