Leap Year – A Universal Pictures’ Release

http://universalpictures.com/leapyear/

DVD Release Date: May 4th, 2010

Rated PG for violence, language may offend, and mature theme

Running time: 101 minutes

Anand Tucker (dir.)

Deborah Kaplan (writer)

Harry Elfont (writer)

Randy Edelman (music)

Amy Adams as Anna Brady

Matthew Goode as Declan

Adam Scott as Jeremy

John Lithgow as Jack Brady

Our reviews below:

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Leap Year DVD Review By John C.

♣♣♣(out of 4)

In Ireland, a woman can propose to a man on the 29th of February.  When Anna’s (Amy Adams) boyfriend of four years does not propose to her before he takes off to Ireland for a conference, she decides to surprise him by coming along.  When she ends up on the wrong side of Ireland, she has to enlist the help of a local, Declan (Matthew Goode), to get her to Dublin.  Predictably, feelings start to develop between the two.

Leap Year stars Amy Adams, and features the beautiful scenery of Ireland.  You can’t argue with a movie this aesthetically pleasing.  Though some will hate it for being clichéd and predictable, it’s simple Irish charms won me over completely.  Everything about it is easy on the eyes and mind, which makes for a perfectly pleasant viewing experience.

The DVD includes about 7-minutes of deleted scenes, all of which are actually good, and only edited out for time.

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Leap Year DVD Review By Erin V.

♣♣♣1/4 (out of 4)

Leap Year, stars Amy Adams as Anna, an American woman who has been dating the same man for four years, yet he has never proposed.  So, when she hears about an Irish tradition that says that on Leap Day (once every four years), the woman gets to propose to the man instead of the other way around, she is intrigued.  Since her boyfriend happens to be going to Dublin on business, she decides to surprise him and meet him there for February 29th.  But, weather forces her flight to land in Wales, so she has to find her way from there to Dublin.  After taking a ferry, she finds herself in a small town, where the young owner of the bed and breakfast agrees to be her taxi driver.  The man, Declan (Matthew Goode), and her don’t like each other at first, but being a rom-com, as they make their way across Ireland together, they start to really like each other – and maybe even fall in love.

Sure, it’s predictable, but it’s also one of the nicest romantic-comedies I’ve seen this year.  Like Just Wright, it moves back to a more tried and true format, focusing mainly just on its main two characters as they develop a real relationship.

For these reasons, I really liked Leap Year.  I also found it sweet and funny, and would definitely recommend it – especially to an older audience – considering it’s very ‘clean’ (no sex, minimal language).  The cinematography here is beautiful – and maybe I’m partial being of half-Irish heritage, but I love watching films set in Ireland.  And importantly for a film like this, I liked watching both of the actors/characters they played.  Released on DVD just last month, I’d give this one a second look.  This is one of those movies, that I would consider to be somewhat under-rated.

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Leap Year DVD Review By Nicole

♣♣♣(out of 4)

Leap Year is a light, low-key comedy about the simpler joys in life.  Amy Adams stars as Anna, a perfectionist real estate decorator from Boston.  She has been dating Jeremy, a heart surgeon, for four years now, and would like him to propose.  When he doesn’t, Anna recalls an old tradition where woman can propose to men on Leap Day in Dublin.  Luckily, Jeremy just happens to be heading off to Dublin for a conference at the end of February!  Anna decides to surprise Jeremy by flying to Dublin herself.  But when a storm causes Anna to end up at the wrong end of Ireland, Anna requires the help of a handsome, but seemingly annoying local named Declan (Matthew Goode).  Over time, through a series of hilarious mishaps, Anna begins to grow fond of Declan.  Now what is she to do?

Leap Year is incredibly predictable, but that doesn’t seem to matter when you have a charming storyline, and beautiful scenery.  With no objectionable content, Leap Year will be particularly enjoyed by families, seniors, and anyone who likes Ireland.

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Leap Year DVD Review By Maureen

♣♣♣(out of 4)

There’s something about the rolling hills and ancient castles of Ireland that just say romance.  And when you combine the wonderful low-key Irish wit of the locals you have the right ingredients for a sweet romantic-comedy.  That’s exactly what Leap Year is, a sweet romantic-comedy.

When American real-estate stager, Anna (Amy Adams) decides to follow her cardiologist boyfriend, Jeremy (Adam Scott) to Dublin and surprise him with a Leap Day marriage proposal, things don’t go as planned.  Stranded in the wrong part of Ireland she hires local pub owner, Declan (Matthew Goode) to get her to Dublin on time.  Their journey takes them to some unexpected places and situations, some silly, some charming, some sweet.  They all end in the final destination, love.

Leap Year is a completely predictable movie.  Like romantic-comedies of the forties it has an innocence and charm that make it delightful to watch.  Amy Adams and Matthew Goode are charming and believable as the unlikely couple.

I really enjoyed Leap Year and was half expecting to see leprechaun’s leaping about in the corners of the screen.  If you are a fan of old-fashioned romantic-comedies or anything where Ireland is the main character, then check out Leap Year on DVD.

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Leap Year DVD Review By Tony

♣♣♣(out of 4)

Leap Year was a pleasant surprise, much better than the trailer suggested.  Anna Brady (Amy Adams), a very organized stager for upscale Boston real estate properties, feels time running out for her cardiologist boyfriend of four years Jeremy (Adam Scott) to propose. After her easy-going father Jack (John Lithgow) reminds Anna of the Irish tradition of women proposing to men on February 29, she decides to surprise Jeremy at a Dublin conference on that day.  When a storm causes her flight to be rerouted to Wales, she charters a fishing boat which is blown off course to a village some distance from Dublin.  At a small inn, she hires the innkeeper Declan (Matthew Goode) to drive her to Dublin the next day. The plain-spoken Irishman is more than a match for the impatient American woman, with results that are somewhat predictable.

In the great tradition of road pictures such as It Happened One Night, the joy comes in the chemistry between the leads, given a sharply-written script and strong supporting cast, set in the beautiful Irish countryside.

The DVD has some brief deleted scenes that fill in some interesting details, worth seeing after the film.

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Consensus: Although it is predictable, Leap Year is far sweeter than the majority of recent rom-coms.  Set against a romantic backdrop of the beautiful Irish countryside, Leap Year is a winner due to its good acting and simple Irish charms. ♣♣♣ (Out of 4)