Once every 4 years…
Leap Year is the classic Romantic Comedy. It follows Anna Brady, Amy Adams from Nocturnal Animals, Big Eyes, and American Hustler, from Boston all the way across the Atlantic Ocean to Dublin, Ireland on her quest for love. The film starts the comedy out in Boston, when Adams thinks she is getting engaged to her long-term, cardiologist boyfriend, Jeremy, played by Adam Scott, know for his role in Parks and Recreation, and receives only earrings. She then decides to partake in the Irish tradition, on February 29th a woman can propose to man and follows Jeremy to Ireland.
Before jumping into what the film was about and all that jazz, I have to point out that the concept of the film that a woman can’t propose to a man is outdated and is perhaps one of the reasons this film was not so great. Sure, it makes a great storyline based on an old superstition, but maybe if it had been made in a earlier time, say the 80’s, when it would have been a little more unheard of. In my opinion, if two people are both ready to get married, then who cares, who proposes. Instead of being stuck in the past, let’s all move on to the future. Now, back to the film.
On her comedic journey she encounters many things, but perhaps the most important is a cynical young man named Declan. When all the flights are cancelled because of a storm she finds herself in a very small town, where the bar, hotel, and taxi service are owned by one man, Declan. He decides to take her to Dublin and so, their journey starts. They have endless struggles on their way to Dublin, all of which are pretty funny. The writers of the script, partners Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont, keep the audience laughing.
Perhaps most of the comedy comes from the setting of Ireland. With its little roads, wandering farm animals, rain storms and small towns. It is the perfect setting for anything and everything to happen, anything and everything that will prevent Anna from getting to Dublin on time that is. On their journey, Anna and Declan sink a car, get into a fist fight over a suitcase with thieves, pretend to be married, and miss a train, but they do eventually get to Dublin on time. As you may have guessed, Anna and Declan do end up together (spoiler alert), but not before Anna and Jeremy get engaged and buy an apartment together and Declan is forced to face the girl that broke his heart in the first place.
Amy Adams, or you might recognize her as Lois Lane from one of the many Superman movies, has made quite the name for herself. She broke out of the television area of entertainment after her role as Katy on The Office and has continued to lead a successful career. This film also features the work of partners in crime, Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont. This pair has brought us the romantic comedy Made of Honor, featuring Patrick Dempsey, and Mary + Jane a television series.
On a scale of romantic comedy greatness, Leap Year, falls short. While the movie was funny, it has been out done many times over by other films like 10 Things I Hate About You, The Proposal (which features a woman proposing to a man even though it is only for the laugh), and Mr. & Mrs. Smith (which features the once epic couple, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie). Personally, I thought all three of the romantic comedies I just listed were 10 times better than Leap Year, but what do I know, after all I have not watched all of them, hell I haven’t even watched all of Netflix’s very limited selection. While these movies were all great, notice that none of them are that very new, 10 Things I Hate About You was made in1999, Mr. & Mrs. Smith in 2005, and The Proposal in 2009. Leap Year was made in 2010, as you can see this is a sort of dying breed of film, think to yourself about the last romantic comedy that you watched, was it new and in theaters or something you picked out of Walmart’s $5 bin on your way out of the store, my bet is that most of you will say something closer to that latter.
Overall, I thought the movie was decent. It was one that you could watch today and not need to see again for quite some time. I personally, am a fan of comedy so, it appealed to me in that way, as there was plenty to go around from old superstitious men to Anna rolling down a muddy hill. I also enjoyed seeing some of what Ireland’s rural country side has to offer, and I must say it is very appealing to the eye. However, if someone asked me for a good romantic comedy to watch, this film would be nowhere on the list that I would give them.
