Kate & Leopold has been out long enough that probably everyone who wants to see it has seen it already. Just in case, the following commentary may give away the plot, if you couldn’t guess it already from the previews. Last night it was playing on TV, and since I’d had a mild desire to see it ever since it came out, we stayed up and watched it. Well, it was free, anyway.
Perhaps the best thing I can say about the movie was that it fell far short. It began with bright hopes, and I enjoyed the period costumes and witty repartee (‘You light up a room simply by leaving it’) as well as the promise of a clever plot twist involving the time travel paradox. There was real potential for a resounding moral about the need for true gentlemen to defend the honour of all ladies, distressed damsels or not, innocent or otherwise, against the machinations of unscrupulous villains. But in the end, this positive message was lost in the fray and the moral degenerated into your typical follow-your-heart romantic comedy theme. I did enjoy observing how a gentleman simply behaving like a gentleman tends to show up the shallow shortcomings of your typical modern male, and how the little matters of common courtesy which Leopold took for granted – speaking respectfully, standing when a lady left the table – made such an impression on women. This theme – women like to be treated like ladies and generally prefer to be courted and wooed rather than taken for granted – could have been explored a bit more.
Ah, well. It was ‘pleasant piffle,’ and I liked Meg Ryan’s wardrobe of spiffy suits, even if Michael thought her hair untidy and messy. ‘Well, it’s supposed to be tousled and adorable,’ I told him. ‘Adorable only if you like the Raggedy Ann look,’ was his reply.
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3 comments:
I love a good romantic comedy and I too thought Kate and Leopold looked promising. Alas! You are right. I was hugely disappointed. In fact, I have found most romantic comedies to be disappointing lately. Even my husband suggested that we re-watch "Runaway Bride" just to see one with some redemptive value....Well, okay, at least some comedy.
Rose!
I just read this on your blog and had to tell you that we actually met the lady Leopold was going to marry before Meg Ryan came along… something about the Trees of Schenectady(??). We met her when we were in NYC for the convention! Apparently she’s an aspiring actress as she was a waitress for the reception we were attending. She acts just like she did in the movie! Goofy smile and all. :) Finally I asked her if she was in Kate & Leo, and she said yes. Too cool. I was so excited I could hardly stand it. So there ya have it. Our “claim” to fame. :)
-Audra
Wow! That is so cool! I thought she did a great job of portraying the eager, naive, aspiring bride-to-be. It's neat because you don't think of people in the movies as normal people you meet in real life...good for her to be working her way up honestly in the world. =)
~Rose
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