Review of Kate & Leopold (2001) by Keenan S — 08 Jun 2018

Kate & Leopold is utterly cliched, the plot holes are big enough to drive semi trucks through and have unfortunate implications for the character, Stuart, and sappy as hell. Every moment is meant to manipulate and tug on your heartstrings.

That being said, I still rather enjoyed Kate & Leopold - warts and all. The story follows a duke named Leopold from 1876 who ends up in modern times because of his great-great-grandson. The expected shenanigans ensue as he finds himself in an unfamiliar time, as well as meeting a headstrong woman named Kate, who works in marketing.

At first, they don't get along, but soon Kate finds herself charmed by this duke, who in turn grows to enjoy this modern era. But their time together cannot last, as he must travel back in time by Monday, otherwise the character, Stuart (Leopold's great-great-grandson), will not exist and it will cause other disruptions in the flow of time.

The story unfolds in every way you would expect. It is by-the-book to the core of its being. In all honesty, in most cases, I would give this film a bad review. That being said, it is because of the cast - particularly Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman - who lift this utterly cliched work into something charming and irresistible.

Even when you poke holes in the logic and are left with questions, Ryan and Jackman keep you invested, laughing, and entertained in a heartwarming, feel-good way. This is one of those cases where it makes you appreciate the capabilities of actors.

Great actors can make even the most drab material interesting and worthwhile, which is precisely the case with Kate & Leopold. It's a guilty pleasure that would be hard to admit enjoying, but I'll be damned if I didn't admit it in this review.

If you enjoy schmaltz but with talent, this is the film for you. Damn you, Kate & Leopold. Damn you and all your whimsical charm that make me not fret about your obvious flaws.