Record Exchange Boise

Reviews:

Running time: 118 minutes. Rated PG-13. DVD Release Date: June 11, 2002
Special features: Commentary by director James Mangold; Original Theatrical Version and Director's Cut; Deleted Scenes With Commentary; "On The Set" Featurette; Sting "Until" Music Video; Photo Gallery; Costume Featurette; Widescreen anamorphic format

One cannot imagine the dread a reviewer feels when confronted with a movie like "Kate & Leopold." It's akin to being informed that Ray Charles will perform your vasectomy.

Despite my initial fears, I found this film has almost no right to be as entertaining as it is; it's a shoddily plotted time travel story stuffed with almost every romantic comedy cliche rooftop candlelight dinner, the cute first-time meeting, Meg Ryan, etc.), yet it still manages not to suck. This is largely due to Hugh Jackman, who shows some serious comedy chops as Leopold, the reluctant time-traveling Duke who falls into modern-day New York City and in love with you-know-who. Courtship and culture-clashing comedy follows, but Jackman makes it much more fun than it should be. The supporting roles are well cast, especially "The West Wing"'s Bradley Whitford, who nicely underplays his part as Meg's slimy boss.

As for Meg herself, we've seen her in this role before, in "You've Got Harry in Seattle" and "When Sleepless Sally Got Mail." Please, can we have someone new?