Review of When in Rome (2010) by Jay K — 22 Oct 2011

"I mean there is not an emotion on earth that can't be expressed through sausage. And that bratwurst is saying, 'hello, and thank you for showing me the museum.'".

When in Rome is another tragically contrived romantic comedy that relies on offerings from the big old dirty sack of genre clichés. Within the first 150 seconds the film has already hit us with the classic "He's right behind me, isn't he?" gag, and in a way you feel bad for Kristen Bell. There is nothing she can do with this kind of script. Veronica Mars and all that potential has never felt further in the past. There's the tinky-tonk whimsical walking music, far too many shots of Bell jogging from behind, awkward plot devices (why is there no phone signal in the centre of Rome?) and the strange but common phenomena of uncomfortable predictability.

You have Danny Devito playing a toned down version of Frank Reynolds, There's an illusionist who for some reason isn't Will Arnett (who is doing an Italian accent elsewhere), but John Heder? (Napoleon Dynamite), complete with his assistant Juan (Pedro), except only one of them is doing the same voice. It's very confusing. The idea appears to have been to throw as many supporting comedic actors at the film as possible and see what, or who, sticks. So you have Arnett, Heyer, DeVito & Dax Sherpard (indeed) chasing after our heroine and Kristen Schaal (Flight of the Conchords) doing a pointless, badly executed cameo in a restaurant. It's somewhat reminiscent in an abstract way of those small toy men with sticky hands and feet that you throw at the wall and they tumble down head over arse until they hit the floor. But not as entertaining as that would be. And much longer.

For some reason the main guy keeps walking into things/falling down holes for no apparent reason. Like a slapstick P.S. note. I can't remember whether that was ever explained, or why it necessitated a related catchphrase. The slapstick parts feel tacked on to the dismal script, though a couple do manage to raise a smirk. It's little consolation.

Ironically the best part of the film may be the dancing sequence during the end credits. It's certainly the most fun.