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The rich and famous do have their problems, and Hollywood enjoys making comedies about their many obstacles to happiness. In CHASING LIBERTY, Mandy Moore plays the high-profile daughter of the President of the United States, an 18-year-old who thinks she can take care of herself. She resents being constantly chaperoned, followed by Secret Service agents and recognized wherever she goes. Her over-protective father ignores his daughter’s pleas for privacy, so the previously dutiful girl rebels. Sneaking away one night, she ends up on a wild road-trip adventure through Europe with a handsome stranger.
Sadly, what should be a fun movie updating the IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT/ROMAN HOLIDAY theme falls victim to Moore’s serious miscasting. I know it’s not fair to compare the current pop-star darling to film greats Claudette Colbert and Audrey Hepburn, but I honestly believe this role was a terrible choice for her. Maybe if CHASING LIBERTY were a musical, Moore’s lovely singing voice would’ve enhanced her acting and made the movie more watchable. As is, Moore’s portrayal of a drunken, skinny-dipping, whining, seductive, spoiled young woman doesn’t ring true. She yells a lot, complains loudly, and throws herself shamelessly at a man – all the time reminding me of a student trying out for the school play.
Receiving scant help from the script, Moore must interact with characters by saying some very silly lines – such as when her mother asks, “How’s your heart?” and she replies, “It’s a little bit broken.”
Only in the last scene does Moore show her true potential. Adopting a more serious persona, her beautiful eyes project genuine feeling for one of the key characters. Please, Mandy, choose a drama next time!
In the Clark Gable/Gregory Peck “stranger” role, handsome newcomer Matthew Goode fares much better. His British accent and comic clipped delivery lend charm and class to the proceedings. I intend to keep an eye on this charismatic actor. Don’t be surprised if Goode becomes filmdom’s next big star. Remember, you read it here first.
On the other hand, Mark Harmon (FREAKY FRIDAY) seems uncomfortable as the U.S. President. In all fairness, it’s an uncomfortable part. Here’s the leader of the free world meeting with European bigwigs -- and most of his thoughts are about how to hide his cigar smoking from the First Lady (Caroline Goodall) and what his daughter might be up to.
Jeremy Piven (OLD SCHOOL) and Annabella Sciorra (WHAT DREAMS MAY COME) provide a few humorous moments as the Secret Service Agents assigned to the First Daughter. Their budding romance sparked my interest more than the one between Moore and Goode, whose characters lie to each other about their identities. Piven’s agent hides nothing from his partner, including sadness when his advances are rejected. I’d probably enjoy seeing a movie about these two – IT HAPPENED IN EUROPE maybe?
Also on the plus side, gorgeous location shots show off Europe (Venice, Prague and Berlin), while snippets of classic operas whet the appetite for more of the same. Although CHASING LIBERTY is not a total catastrophe of MARCI X proportions, it wouldn’t hurt to wait for the video/DVD.
(Released by Warner Bros. and rated PG-13 for sexual content and brief nudity.)
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