Review: When in Rome (2010)

[Steve Rhodes]

WHEN IN ROME
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2010 Steve Rhodes

RATING (0 TO ****):  ***

Sweet, romantic and genuine, WHEN IN ROME is certainly fluff, but it is very 
entertaining and enjoyable nonetheless.  Sure, most critics are warning you 
away from it, but, if you are like the members of our packed audience, 
you'll be laughing often and will leave with a satisfied grin.

But, first let's have a location check.  We aren't talking about a rerelease 
of the Mary Kate and Ashley film of the same name or any of the many other 
versions of the film with the same title, going all the way back to 1932. 
The latest WHEN IN ROME features a consistently charming Kristen Bell as 
Beth, a woman who was so hurt in her last relationship that she has become 
very leery of believing in love's possibilities for her again.

Bell, who has been seen in many TV shows ("Heroes") and films (FORGETTING 
SARAH MARSHALL), is probably best known for her title role in "Veronica 
Mars" and as the title voice in "Gossip Girl." She manages to make this 
lightweight movie rather magical, and there is genuine chemistry between her 
and her co-star Nick (Josh Duhamel).

Set up as something of an adult fairy tale, WHEN IN ROME has Beth accidently 
casting a love spell on five guys by pulling their coins out of a fountain 
in Rome, where she has gone to attend the wedding of her sister Joan (Alexis 
Dziena).  While there she first meets Nick, who is the best man at her 
sister's wedding.  The film's many jokes include Nick's lame Italian 
translations of Beth's reluctant speech at the wedding.  Like most of the 
jokes, you've heard them before, but Bell and Duhamel throw themselves into 
their parts so convincingly that you never care.  Sure, if you go in 
expecting the film to be bad, you can probably groan smugly.  But, if you'll 
just be in the moment, as our audience was, you'll easily fall in love with 
the film and its stars.

Most of the supporting casting is okay, if nothing exceptional.  My personal 
favorite is Dziena ("Invasion"), who is cute as a bug in the small role of 
the sister.  Another good one is Jon Heder (NAPOLEON DYNAMITE) who plays a 
street magician who thinks he is love with Beth because of the coin spell.

At a time when way too many movies have colors that are downright dull, WHEN 
IN ROME features wonderfully lush and inviting colors.  It's a real treat 
for the eyes.

The story ends predictably but satisfyingly.  The ending also contains one 
of the film's funniest sight gags, which involves a tiny car.  Yep, you've 
seen this before too, but, as you're laughing hard, you probably won't mind.

WHEN IN ROME runs a breezy 1:31.  It is rated PG-13 for "some suggestive 
content" and would be acceptable for kids of all ages.

The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday, January 29, 2010. 
In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Cinemark 
theaters and the Camera Cinemas.

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Email: Steve.Rhodes at InternetReviews.com

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