Kate & Leopold

As terminally precious as any other Meg Ryan vehicle, this time-travel romantic comedy might warm the easy heart, but it will also most certainly numb the brain. Here, the perky Ryan plays a flustered Manhattan career gal whose love life takes a turn for the better when her amateur inventor ex-boyfriend (Leiv Schreiber) not only excitedly claims to have discovered a portal into the 19th century, but also returns with a dapper, chivalrous gentleman (Hugh Jackman) in tow. Hackneyed gimmickry pokes out of every nook and cranny of this movie as Ryan and Jackman fall in love. Major plot points have been gutted in post-production retooling and since Ryan takes the better part of the film to catch on that her suitor truly is a time traveler, she comes across as rather clueless. Director James Mangold (Girl, Interrupted) also assumes the Kleenex-toting target audience for this picture won't mind willfully sloppy science fiction, huge suspension-of-disbelief hurdles and cheap cinematic subterfuge. In short, Kate & Leopold is annoyingly disinterested in being anything beyond cute. Not a necessary purchase. [Note: The DVD release features several extras, including both the "original theatrical version" of the film and the "director's cut" (approximately five minutes longer), and a fine scene-specific commentary track by director James Mangold. In addition, there's the basic 15-minute "making of" with cast and crew; a three-minute costume featurette; the music video "Until" by Sting; and an extensive photo gallery (of the cast, costume sketches and storyboards). Bottom line: a solid extras package for a so-so film.] (R. Blackwelder)[Blu-ray Review—Apr. 10, 2012—Lionsgate, 123 min., PG-13, $14.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 2001's Kate & Leopold features a great transfer and a DTS-HD 5.1 soundtrack. Extras include audio commentary with co-writer/director James Mangold, an “On the Set” featurette (15 min.), deleted scenes with optional commentary by Mangold (9 min.), a segment on costumes (3 min.), the music video “Until” by Sting, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid Blu-ray debut for a disappointing film.]