MOVIE REVIEW - Leap Year

There's always room it seems for one more romantic comedy, and this week it's the new Amy Adams flick, Leap Year.

At first look, it does seem formula and predictable, and to be honest with you it is. But Leap Year does have one thing that most movies don't - Amy Adams. She makes pretty much any movie better. Even a script like this one.

Leap Year is the story of Anna (Adams). Anna is a life long Bostonian., She has had the same boyfriend Jeremy (Adam Scott) for 4 years and thinks it's high time they get engaged. He travels a lot and heads off to Dublin, Ireland for a conference. Anna decides to tackle an old Irish tradition. On leap day (February 29) the legend says women can ask men to marry them. So she packs up and heads off to meet Jeremy and pop the question.

Trouble is, after landing she meets Declan (Mathew Goode). He is a local Irish pub owner who is charged with giving Anna a cab ride to Dublin to meet Jemery after her travel plans go askew. Along their journey, it's the old "opposites attract" thing takes over. Is Declan really the man for Anna. I will give this movie some real props. For a romantic comedy, it is romantic and fun. Funny? Well that's debatable. That is Leap Year.

Leap Year is a really good example of a movie that could have used a better sanding, priming and another coat of paint and been a lot better movie. Adams and Goode are certainly well cast, and turn in strong performances, but there's just some junk that gets in the way. A few too many scenes, and few scenes designed to deliver big laughs, don't. Some poor writing at times, and belaboring points time and time again, really slow this thing down.

But all is not lost here. Adams is simply wonderful again on screen. Although an awkward script handcuffs her at times, she is so likable and sweet, that she can overcome the problems of those behind the scenes. They asked her to be a little to physically funny here and didn't ask her enough to simply be funny, and charming. When she is, this movie sails along, otherwise, it's a bit cumbersome and strange. But there is some fun and it is shot in the beautiful Irish coast and that is a good thing.

Leap Year. Is it great? No.....but for hopeless romantics, it's fun. Great date movie too.