Leap Year less than leap-worthy

For me, few things are better than a night at the movies. Most people enjoy going to the movies every once in a while, but it wouldn't be necessarily their first choice of things to do. I do enjoy lots of different activities, but a couple of hours in a dark theater with a huge bag of heavily-buttered popcorn pretty much hits the Top 5 on my list of happy places. There's something about the smell of the concessions, mixed with the previews and movie montages that make me feel like part of something special for a short couple of hours.

I've been fascinated with movies basically since birth. And to me, there's nothing like a movie on opening night. I'm the type of person that has no problem going to a movie in the middle of the afternoon by myself, but going to a movie on opening night is like attending a major event. The place is packed, everyone's excited to be one of the first ones to be seeing whatever next big thing is being released; there's an energy in the room that makes fighting the crowds and (if it's a Midnight showing) staying up all night, totally worth it.

So, last night the Sara(h)s and I went to a movie at Point Cinema. We decided to check out Leap Year, starring Amy Adams and the adorable Matthew Goode. Amy Adams seems to be everywhere lately; between her role as Julie Powell in Julie & Julia and playing Amelia Earhart in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. In Leap Year she portrays Anna Brady, a tightly-wound control freak who stages apartments for a living. She thinks she's about to get a proposal from her boyfriend, Jeremy, played by Adam Scott, but when he presents her with a jewelry box at dinner what does she find? None other than a pair of shiny diamond earrings. Obviously not what she was hoping for.

So, her Cardiologist boyfriend is off to Dublin, Ireland on business and she decides to follow him to Dublin to propose on Leap Day, February 29th. Apparently, it's one of many old Irish traditions that it's acceptable for a woman to propose to her boyfriend on Leap Day. So, off to Dublin she goes.

And of course, one thing after another gets in her way and she's forced to hire Declan, played by Matthew Goode, to drive her to Dublin. And of course, one thing after another gets in their way and they start to fall for each other.

Now, I won't give away the ending, but I will say the movie reminded me a lot of Forces of Nature, which starred Ben Affleck and Sandra Bullock. Only this time the lead character is a female and she's trying to get to her proposal instead of her wedding. In other words, it's pretty predictable and it's been done before. And, the chemistry between Amy Adams and Matthew Goode isn't convincing enough-it was difficult to feel any sort of attachment to their characters.

But, Amy Adams is charming as always and provides several good comedic moments. Matthew Goode is, like I said, adorable and makes Jeremy, the soon-to-be-fiance, look like a troll in comparison. And who doesn't love a man with an accent? So, if you're looking for a chick flick, I'd say see this, but hit it up once it's on video.

Make sure to catch my next few posts where I'll review Middleton nightlife and The Broadway tour of Rent starring Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp reprising their roles as the original Roger & Mark!