Movie Review: LEAP YEAR

Title: LEAP YEAR

Released: January 2010

Cast: Amy Adams, Matthew Goode, Adam Scott, and John Lithgow

Plot:

Anna Brady (Amy Adams) is a woman with a plan. Always on schedule whilst climbing Boston's social ladder, everything is falling wonderfully into place except her boyfriend of four years, Jeremy (Adam Scott). Leaving Anna with a set of diamond earrings on the eve of what she thought would be her engagement for a conference in Dublin, Ireland, Anna is crushed to find her perfect life just out of reach. After being reminded by her father (John Lithgow) of the old Irish tradition where it's acceptable for women to propose to their boyfriends on leap year, Anna hops a jet for Dublin to do just that only to have everything fall spectacularly apart. Now, stranded in Dingle - not to be confused with Dublin, with a caustic pub owner/taxi driver/chef/concierge - Declan (Matthew Goode), whom of which would like nothing more than to be rid of Anna but instead finds himself financially chained to her, Anna thus embarks on a journey that changes everything of what she thought she knew she always wanted.

My Thoughts:

LEAP YEAR is sweet romantic comedy and while it lacks a bit in overall plot, Amy Adams and the luscious Matthew Goode, make up for it all in spades.

Anna starts off the movie as an irritating, presumptuous female who religiously plans out every moment of her life. To date, she's managed to accomplish all her goals but one: Marriage. It becomes immediately obvious that Jeremy, Anna's would be mate, has other things on his mind. It's only when all of Anna's plans fail that she really becomes endearing and cute with her penchant for accidents and gnawing wit. She's also incredibly naïve and innocent and since all this is exposed rather quickly, it's Declan that soon becomes the character to crack.

An aloof cynic who is jaded to the core, Declan only comments to point out the worst or the lowest of his opinion. He's wounded, a man who lashes out first rather than open his eyes to something other than the gloom that blocks them. But Anna slowly cracks through his tough exterior whether she realizes it or not as Declan grudgingly opens up first with humor and then with down right silliness. He makes you laugh but boy can he make you sigh. He's not a man to talk just to talk. He says and means what he feels no matter how cryptic he might make it all appear.

Matthew Goode's lilting Irish accent will have any woman with ears positively melting and those with eyes will be soaking up every inch of the one glimpse that we're bestowed of his naked torso. Then there's of course the itching desire to finger comb his dark shaggy hair and scruffy beard. But best of all, its his dreamy blue eyes and one can't help but find themselves swimming within their endless depths. Such lovely, soulful eyes.

Together, Anna and Declan make a quirky but sweet pair. It's also a testament of both these actors and their skill to take what really are two rather flat characters and pump them full of life. I'm always fascinated by their ability to accomplish such range of emotion with the subtlest of facial expressions. It's these small things that add up into what were once unknown characters into two people that happily take you along with them while on their journey.

And finally, be prepared to fall in love with Ireland. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking with its sweeping vistas and rolling verdant hills. The land becomes as much of a participating character as Anna and Declan as its incorporated fluidly into nearly every scene. And the backdrop it provides for the end...sigh, stunning.

Any who call themselves lovers of romantic comedy will find all that they love in LEAP YEAR.

Tested and husband approved.

B