The Wasteland Reviewer

The Wasteland Review Request: Leap Year (2010)

Are there specific places around the world that you long to visit and explore? Most people have different countries that are on that list of places you would love to visit. Many of us have never gotten a chance to explore a beautiful new place that is rich in culture and gorgeous locales to witness. Ireland is one of those magical places that just has such an amazing charm that will grab you. Setting a romantic comedy there is no brainer since it is impossible not to be overtaken by wonder and love looking at the rich greenery of such a place. Turning back the clock to 2010, there was a romantic comedy that whisked an American woman off to this beautiful country to fulfill a tradition of proposing on Leap Day…but she meets a man along the way who just might be the one (if they can get over hating each other).

What does director Anand Tucker bring to this international romantic comedy? One of the first visual elements you will notice is a high sheen and brightest to the whole picture. There are certainly moments that stand out for capturing the gorgeous landscapes of Ireland (which are some of the best elements of the film). But there are some obvious beats where visual effects or fake backgrounds are being used which takes you out of the film quickly. The music from composer Randy Edelman is perfectly fine but it does have a melodramatic feel that comes off quite heavy-handed in how it is paired with the action on screen. For a film that is just around 100 minutes, there are some moments that feel a tad repetitive or drag the pacing down. The tone of the film is quite uneven as well at times as the humor in the film can be a bit silly, but Tucker also attempts to inject some weightier elements into the film. Overall, this is a charming enough atmosphere (with the Irish personality going a long way).

Does the screenplay from Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont deliver the good with this Irish romantic comedy? One thing is for certain, Kaplan and Elfont know their romantic comedy tropes (even though some of them are quite tired). Leap Year has a fun idea of a woman trying to propose to her long-term partner who is in Ireland for business. But Leap Year dives headlong into the tired and overly familiar “wise country man hates city woman, but they fall for each other anyway” trope. There are even more predictably unenthusiastic beats including “they fake being married but fall for each other anyway”. The way these elements play out in Leap Year feel contrived and lack a fresh perspective or approach. There is some depth regarding out wise Irish man as he carries some baggage he must get over. The pitter patter of their banter even feels a bit stale and overused, leaving a lack of impact. Our family protagonist is insufferable, and it takes a long time before her growth hits the audience. The cultural elements sprinkled throughout are a serious saving grace as they feel like some of the few inspired elements from a writing standpoint. This is a comfortable watch that knows what story beats are charming and engaging so Kaplan and Elfont safely lean into them.

How does the cast bring the most out of this familiar story? Amy Adams is an insanely talented actor who has yet to get her flowers in the awards arena. But she brings such a charming demeanor and attitude to certain films like Enchanted and The Muppets. Here, most of that charm and charisma is felt (which is saying a lot due to the unlikeable nature of this character for most of the film). Anna would have been unredeemable if it were not for the effort that Adams injects into her role. The true standout of the film is Matthew Goode as the world-weary and cynical Declan. Goode crafts a charming Irish demeanor for this gruff character. A balance of perpetual annoyance and charming one-liners is a tough go, but it shows that Goode was up for the task. The chemistry between Adams and Goode is effective enough to get you to buy-in over the course of this Irish adventure. Adam Scott is excellent at portraying arrogant and smug individuals, and he makes Anna’s fiancé come to life quite earnestly. The film calls for a frustrating and unlikeable romantic rival and Scott excels. Oh wait…Jon Lithgow is in this! For two minutes. Yet he still leaves enough of an impression. Truth be told, there is a film filled with authentic and charming Irish characters along Anna’s journey to Dublin and they truly elevate the experience.

Is Leap Year the type of romantic comedy to excite you? It is a shame that this script delivers an overarching narrative that has been done to death by both Netflix and Hallmark over the years. The Irish setting does (and plenty of charming Irish characters) go some distance in lifting the core of the film. Adams and Goode are hard to argue with as they make a charismatic romantic duo (with an equally effective smug rival in the way). Not fresh but effective enough, Leap Year is a charming and easy watch from 16 years ago.

Special thanks to Luke Burian for nominating Leap Year (2010)!