Love in the Time of Cholera

Mike Newell's handsomely filmed adaptation of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's novel retains the book's flavor but ultimately disappoints as the overly complicated and occasionally florid storyline struggles to create a dreamy romantic atmosphere but eventually lurches into melodrama. Although the story jumps back and forth in time, it begins chronologically with teenaged Florentino (Unax Ugalde) falling in love at first sight with beautiful Fermina (Giovanna Mezzogiorno), whose disapproving father (a poorly cast and conspicuously hammy John Leguizamo) spirits her away to the countryside, where she eventually falls in love with an aristocratic doctor named Juvenal (Benjamin Bratt). Years later, Juvenal dies, and the grown-up and very successful Florentino (now played by Javier Bardem) declares his love to the grieving widow on the day of the funeral. The film's touching third act finds the two finally consummating their love, and here Newell displays a keen understanding for the nature of romantic relationships. Shot on location in picturesque Cartagena, Colombia, Love in the Time of Cholera teems with beautiful cinematography, but pretty images are not enough to compensate for the too-often cumbersome plotting and overheated performances (Bardem is the only principal player to emerge relatively unscathed). Not a necessary purchase. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary by director Mike Newell, a half-hour-plus “making-of” featurette, 17 deleted scenes with optional commentary by editor Mick Audsley (18 min. total), and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a disappointing adaptation of a great novel.] (E. Hulse)