Review of When in Rome (1952) by Jeff B — 17 Aug 2010

Whenever romantic comedies open, this reviewer gets tossed under the short bus by wannabe critics making a grossly erroneous blanket statement strictly based on his sex: ?Well, that?s not YOUR type of move.? But the truth is, he loves all movies, even the rom-coms (Bringing Up Baby and Notting Hill remain favorites). When in Rome, however, makes him want to drown the entire genre in Moon River. Though its premise holds promise, When in Rome quickly becomes a moviegoer?s worst nightmare thanks to some awful direction and a worse script. Aspiring to be a first-class rom-com along the lines of Roman Holiday is certainly the highest of aspirations, but descending into the pre-school buffoonery of The Three Stooges Go Around the World in a Daze brings the movie to a new low altogether.

In this PG-13-rated romantic comedy, a disillusioned New Yorker (Bell) travels to Rome where she plucks coins from a magical fountain and attracts a host of odd-duck suitors (Jon Heder, Will Arnett, Dax Shepard, Danny DeVito) whose wishes for love she unwittingly stole.

Even if the insipid dialogue clogs the flow for moviegoers, Bell and Duhamel?s Meet-Cute will lure them back in for the waterworks?and this is a bad thing. The couple has chemistry, yes, but this rom-com?s traditional feel quickly takes on a magical bent that becomes more cartoony than enchanting. Worse, not only does director Mark David Johnson not take advantage of the all-too-brief Italian scenes, the camera goes out of focus at least once and another scene doesn?t match its lead-in.

Bottom line: Rome is crashing and burning.