Leap Year is one of those movies for me. Not necessarily one I re-watch every Valentine’s Day, even though it is a romantic movie, more like one I re-watch every time I need a pick me up, but if you ask me, that’s even better. We can all appreciate holiday themed movies, but the only thing better than a movie you re-watch every x time of the year, is one you know will absolutely work for you no matter when you’re watching.
So much of the premise of Leap Year is time specific, of course, but not even Valentine’s Day specific, but 29th of February specific. Now, I’m not going to watch this movie once every four years – I love it too much for that – so let’s just go ahead and call this a V-Day movie and call it a day, okay?
Okay, now that we’ve established that, let’s talk about why this movie is the kind of gem you should absolutely watch, especially if you’re a fan of Matthew Goode and/or Amy Adams.
For Amy, who has shown she has the range to do every kind of role, it’s the kind of role that proves that good acting isn’t just about crying, or long, drawn out emotional scenes, good acting is about understanding a character, making it your own. Good acting is inhabiting a role in a way that makes the viewers want the best for the person you’re portraying.
For Matthew, it’s the kind of role that reminds us that, as good as he is as the brooding, handsome vampire, he can also play the funny and sometimes-a-jerk character. Also that he can, at times, surprisingly enough, play a character not named Matthew! He is, indeed, capable of answering to other names.
And for both of them together, it’s a chance to prove that premises might be the thing that makes you go huh, I should check out this rom-com, but when it comes down to it, the only thing that makes you love one, and then watch it again and again and again …is chemistry.
What? We’re suckers for good banter. Which is the number one thing this movie does well, banter, banter, banter between two characters who don’t really like each other, and then begrudgingly start to get along once they discover that, deep down, they are not so different from one another.
You know how the story goes.
And yes, of course, at some point, they have to pretend to be dating, while on the road to …you know, their own very separate happily ever afters, of course. Because this is a rom-com, and there are standards. Which…we’re absolutely here for fake dating tropes. Especially when the chemistry is this good, and when it, of course, helps both of them realize they’re catching feelings.
*chef’s kiss*
So many tropes in one single clip! And all of them absolutely work, because the chemistry works.
As if all I said: banter, great chemistry, a trope or two, Matthew Good and Amy Adams wasn’t enough, consider this …this movie takes place exactly where you would want a rom-com to take place, with the most breathtaking views ever, and if you somehow watch this and don’t put Scotland near the top of your list of places to visit when this pandemic is over, then I don’t even understand you.
But then again, Outlander fans have had Scotland at the top of their list for years.
So yes, this is a weekend of love. And no matter who you’re spending it with …your family, your gals or your significant other (hey, zoom is a thing, you don’t have to spend it alone!), this is a good movie to watch together. You’ll laugh, you’ll awww and you might even catch some feelings.
Exactly what you want out of a rom-com.
Leap Year is available on Amazon Prime and Google Play.
