Kate and Leopold (2001)
I can't imagine why anyone interested in film would
see "Kate and Leopold." It does exactly what you expect
it to with no apologies and certainly no real effort.
This is the kind of movie that even my mother would
say, "Oh, it was cute. It was okay."
The script here isn't a piece of shit... that would
imply substance. It is really nothing more than a mere
sparrow fart. In actuality, much of it is recycled mishmash
from "Back to the Future" (and the numerous time travel
films that have come before it) and several episodes
of "Bewitched." That's right, I said "Bewitched." If
William Asher were alive to day, he would sue!
When Meg Ryan's Kate is shown early in the film
to be an ad exec looking for a spokesman for butter,
we immediately see the scenario coming up involving
suave Leopold, the time chivalrous traveler. We even
think, "No, they wouldn't. They wouldn't do a lame rip-off
of 40% of the "Bewitched" episodes and have Leopold
act as a spokesperson for butter would they? Yes, Virginia,
they would.
Still, it's hard to hate "Kate and Leopold." Meg
Ryan is just as cute as a wisp here and her straw hair
simply shimmers in every flouncey frame. We can't help
but like her. She's even allowed herself to look a little
older and she still looks awesome. Hugh Jackman (Huge
Ackman? You bet it is!) is as romantic and charming
as one could ever imagine. The preview and commercial
for this film sets everything up. You don't have to
think. I don't care how callous and full of testosterone
you are, you want these two to get together.
The secondary cast is really nice too. Cutie Breckin
Meyer finally gets to play someone over 20 and it's
really nice to see him in a decent film. His crooked
smile warms every frame in his reach. Natasha Lyonne
has a thankless role as a secretary, but it's great
to see her in a major film. She's cute and funny even
with nothing to do. Meanwhile, Live Schrieber is stuck
in a secondary plot that is as insipid as it is unnecessary
and Bradley Whitford is never allowed to be anything
more than a simp.
"Kate and Leopold" has many moments of ridiculous
plot and often shift focus and pacing to irritate those
of us attuned to such notions. But it's merely a seemingly
harmless time travel romantic comedy, right? Perhaps,
but it is also the kind of film that signifies just
what the Hollywood studio system thinks of the intelligence
of females. They treat Kate like a clumsy loser who
needs a man. Kate is so dumb that even after Jackman
takes her to his ancestral home and opens a secret panel
that has obviously been locked for 100 years or more,
she still doesn't believe he is a time traveler. After
she finds out he is the inventor of the elevator and
all elevators have stopped working the minute he arrived,
she still doesn't believe him. It's ridiculous.
What Leopold sees in her, other than that gorgeous
hair, I'll never understand.
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