Kate & Leopold: Movie, DVD Review (2001)

Directed by James Mangold, written by Mangold and Steven Rogers, 114 minutes, rated PG-13.

(Originally published 2001)

James Mangold’s romantic comedy "Kate & Leopold” stars Meg Ryan as Kate McKay, a quirky ad exec with an impish smile and a ditzy demeanor who could cute her way out of a mugging.

Ryan is cynical here and less high strung than she’s been in previous films, but whether that’s because she’s bored with being adorable or because her character makes a living hawking low-fat butter substitute to weight-conscious women, is up for debate.

The film opens with Kate’s ex-boyfriend Stuart (Liev Schreiber) taking photos at a swanky party being thrown to celebrate the opening of the Brooklyn Bridge. Not a re-opening of the bridge, mind you, but the actual opening. Apparently, Stuart’s found a time portal hovering atop the bridge, took a leap of faith and zipped back to 1876.

Now recording his 19th-century visit with a digital camera, Stuart is having a great old time in newer New York until Leopold, the dashing Duke of Albany (Hugh Jackman), spots him at the party, chases him into the streets--and conveniently slips back to the 21st century with him.

Since the film is called "Kate & Leopold," it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that it’s only a matter of time before Leo meets Kate and shows her what’s missing in her life: good breeding, good manners and apparently a broad chest.

Undermining the film’s engaging lightness and superior production values are lapses in logic and a mangling of history. In one scene, Leopold humiliates Kate’s boss by setting him straight on Puccini’s "La Boheme," which didn’t appear until 1896. In another scene, he inexplicably knows the words to "The Pirates of Penzance," which was written in 1879. Later, he mentions Jack the Ripper, who left his marks in 1888.

Lucky for Mangold that he has Jackman, who carries the picture, and a fun supporting turn from Breckin Meyer as Kate’s equally quirky brother. Otherwise, without them, “Kate & Leopold” wouldn’t have had a spittoon to spit in.

Grade: C+