-By Sarah Sluis
For movie details, please click here.
Kristen Bell proclaims “I'm in a relationship with my job" within
the first five minutes of When in Rome. Oh, brother—
another
one of those
career-girl-learns-what's-really-important-when-she-finally-falls-in-love
movies? Fortunately, instead of being rapped on the head with this
predictable plotting, the movie ends up being saved by one of its
faults.
When in Rome never delves deep into anything, but
whisks us through the conventions of romantic comedies so quickly
there’s barely time to groan.
Bell plays a career gal spurned by love. At her sister’s wedding in
Rome, she takes five coins from a “love” fountain, a move that
prompts a stalkerish devotion in each of the five men who threw one
of the coins. There’s a sausage king (Danny DeVito), a model (Dax
Shepard), a street artist (Will Arnett) and a magician (Jon Heder),
all ready to entertain us with their occupational quirkiness. Gifts
of sausage, elaborate graffiti paintings, model-commissioned bus
ads and a Houdini-style break-in ensue. The stable of unhinged
lovers fuels the kind of laughs not allowed for the leading man and
lady. Poor Bell and Josh Duhamel (the best man at the wedding whose
poker chip went from the fountain to Bell’s purse) aren’t allowed
to go to comic extremes, save for endearing bouts of klutziness.
It’s even worse when the romantic duo try to go to the other
extreme. In a rare slow moment, Bell makes a teary confession on a
date with Duhamel, with a sappy predictability that deserves the
resulting grimace.
While most romantic comedies impose elaborate makeup and hair on
their female leads, Bell has a conventionally stylish look that
seems motivated more out of budgetary concerns than considerations
of character. Besides a close-up of the red soles of Bell's
Christian Louboutin heels (prompting oohs of recognition from the
audience), the movie pays little attention to costuming and makeup,
which would have been a welcome distraction from its faults.
Duhamel, however, is occasionally lit with a halo of light
reminiscent of the 1930s soft focus reserved for female stars, a
fun reversal of conventions.
With its bevy of supporting males,
When in Rome is able to
keep up the pace and widen the opportunities for comedy, but the
one-dimensional characters of Bell and Duhamel weaken the already
predictable story. This silly and brisk romantic comedy won’t charm
audiences, but for core rom-com fans, it may provide an hour and a
half of pacification.
Film Review: When in Rome
Run-of-the-mill diversion gets a boost from its deep supporting cast and quick pace.
Jan 29, 2010
-By Sarah Sluis
For movie details, please click here.
Kristen Bell proclaims “I'm in a relationship with my job" within the first five minutes of When in Rome. Oh, brother—
another one of those career-girl-learns-what's-really-important-when-she-finally-falls-in-love movies? Fortunately, instead of being rapped on the head with this predictable plotting, the movie ends up being saved by one of its faults.
When in Rome never delves deep into anything, but whisks us through the conventions of romantic comedies so quickly there’s barely time to groan.
Bell plays a career gal spurned by love. At her sister’s wedding in Rome, she takes five coins from a “love” fountain, a move that prompts a stalkerish devotion in each of the five men who threw one of the coins. There’s a sausage king (Danny DeVito), a model (Dax Shepard), a street artist (Will Arnett) and a magician (Jon Heder), all ready to entertain us with their occupational quirkiness. Gifts of sausage, elaborate graffiti paintings, model-commissioned bus ads and a Houdini-style break-in ensue. The stable of unhinged lovers fuels the kind of laughs not allowed for the leading man and lady. Poor Bell and Josh Duhamel (the best man at the wedding whose poker chip went from the fountain to Bell’s purse) aren’t allowed to go to comic extremes, save for endearing bouts of klutziness. It’s even worse when the romantic duo try to go to the other extreme. In a rare slow moment, Bell makes a teary confession on a date with Duhamel, with a sappy predictability that deserves the resulting grimace.
While most romantic comedies impose elaborate makeup and hair on their female leads, Bell has a conventionally stylish look that seems motivated more out of budgetary concerns than considerations of character. Besides a close-up of the red soles of Bell's Christian Louboutin heels (prompting oohs of recognition from the audience), the movie pays little attention to costuming and makeup, which would have been a welcome distraction from its faults. Duhamel, however, is occasionally lit with a halo of light reminiscent of the 1930s soft focus reserved for female stars, a fun reversal of conventions.
With its bevy of supporting males,
When in Rome is able to keep up the pace and widen the opportunities for comedy, but the one-dimensional characters of Bell and Duhamel weaken the already predictable story. This silly and brisk romantic comedy won’t charm audiences, but for core rom-com fans, it may provide an hour and a half of pacification.
