Thank God for Adams and Goode

Leap Year

Directed By: Anand Tucker

Starring: Amy Adams, Matthew Goode, & Adam Scott

I have never understood characters that stalk off into unfamiliar terrain just because they are mad or upset...as though getting lost and possibly maimed or killed will somehow win them justice in the end. In Leap Year, Amy Adams huffs around so much that you begin to think she should permanently trade in her high heels for a nice pair of Skechers Shape-Ups. She is in Ireland, a place we learn is not as idyllic as it looks; there are ruggedly handsome jerks and boozers who steal luggage for no apparent reason. The last time I checked, the value of a bra depreciates significantly once it's worn, but I digress. Leap Year, written by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont, has a really lame script. It isn't particularly funny or creative, and its narrative structure is poor to say the least...but, gosh darn it, the movie manages to make it work anyway. That is because of Amy Adams and Matthew Goode, both of whom are as charming as ever. They are two great actors simply slumming it in an old-fashioned romantic comedy, the quickest and easiest way in Hollywood to earn all-too-important box-office clout. It's kind of unfortunate to watch them give such good performances in an otherwise disappointing movie, but it's also kind of remarkable that they alone can make such material undeniably watchable...even enjoyable.

So, why is Amy Adams in Ireland and why is the stalking around like a stubborn ox? She plays Anna Brady, a very organized young woman who has been dating the same man for four years. She loves him, wants to marry him, and is dismayed when he gives her a pair of earrings rather than an engagement ring. Off he goes to a cardiologist convention in Ireland...because, you know, that's the only practical place for a meeting of a bunch of heart doctors. Anna has always heard that on Leap Day every four years, in Ireland, a woman can propose to her boyfriend. She books a flight and heads to Dublin, Ireland...but, as I bet you already know, she doesn't arrive as planned. Turbulence forces her plane to land a few hours away from Dublin in the Irish countryside. Fortunately, she meets a rugged barkeeper named Declan (Matthew Goode), who reluctantly offers her a place to stay and a ride to Dublin. Oh, did I mention that he is also the town innkeeper and taxi driver? Well, he is. At first, he and Anna hate each other. But, wouldn't you know it? As they head across Ireland, getting into all sorts of trouble that usually consists of them getting covered in mud or having to share an extra-small bed, they...gasp, fall in love! Are you shocked so far?

Okay, okay, okay, so there are are absolutely no surprises in Leap Year; you will know exactly what is going to happen long before it happens, right down to the very last carefully-calculated stumble into a mud puddle. Amy Adams is especially good at overcoming what could have been the movie's fatal flaw. She has a way of making even the most tired cliche seem fresh, because she always acts genuinely surprised to be in the situations set before her. Most actresses that typically populate such movies act as though they, like us, know what is coming and are, therefore, seemingly just going through the motions. Adams gives everything she has to a part that probably doesn't deserve it and, by doing so, makes it all worthwhile. Matthew Goode, a welcome departure from the likes of Matthew McConaughey (who has had a corner on the rom-com market for years), is also an intriguing love interest for Adams. He is handsome, but wisely kept unshaven and disheveled. He is also just a very good actor who has a firm understanding of comedic timing. He is relatable, sensitive, and funny. Together, Adams and Goode share a sweet, genuine chemistry that is affectionate and touching, even when they are bickering back and forth. As I said, thank God for both of them.

Leap Year is the kind of movie that will entertain some, while boring others. For those that can accept the inadequacies of its screenplay and enjoy watching two good actors working well together, then it will be a welcome addition to the tired genre. For those who cannot just enjoy it for what it is, it will be an uninspiring exercise that proves just how tired the genre really is. It is aided by beautiful scenery that is captured well by director Anand Tucker. Having never been to Ireland, I cannot actually verify how accurate the sleepily idyllic view Leap Year has of it is, but Tucker uses the setting to its desired effect. The dramatic coastal cliffs and sweeping plains of vibrant green are simply lovely to see, and the locals that populate them are an interesting bunch of people. Even if it isn't a completely truthful depiction of Ireland, it still makes for a fun and eclectic setting, and I appreciated the fact that it wasn't primarily either New York City or some nondescript suburb. Basically, Leap Year is just two good actors in a beautiful location sharing a sweet and sentimental romance. The screenplay is never as enjoyable as just watching Adams and Goode share the screen, and the narrative is sadly disjointed, but that hardly matters. This is a romantic comedy, after all, and is actually a fairly solid entry into a genre that has been exhausted for years.