When in Rome
There’s always room for a great romantic comedy. But when something like When in Rome comes along, even the Colosseum isn’t big enough for the ensuing stinkfest. Kristen Bell plays Beth, an art show curator driven to succeed, who goes to Rome for her little sister’s wedding. After another failed attempt at a relationship, she enters the Fountain of Love and plucks out coins tossed there by other romantic hopefuls. Magically, the love-starved crazies who originally tossed those coins begin manically pursuing her. Among her suitors: the young man (Josh Duhamel) she developed feelings for at her sister’s wedding.
The ClearPlay Factor
There are a couple of raunchy scenes in When in Rome, including one with implied sex and another with a nude mural. But the ClearPlay filter is so artfully employed, there’s never really an indication they ever existed. ClearPlay also catches 20 to 25 instances of mild profanity. ClearPlayed, the movie seems like a G-rated romp, save for one character who likes to take off his shirt. This is good news for kids, who might actually like the silly, slapsticky gags more than their parents do.
What exactly do the Romans do When in Rome?…
I know there’s an audience for this kind of romcom, fashioned after the School Of What’s Funny To 12-Year-Olds. Most of the movie’s characters act like buffoons, while the two leads play it semi-straight. The predictability of the plot may even be comforting to some. I found it mind-numbing. However, I did smile twice. That’s got to be worth something.
Marty Nabhan— ClearPlay Innamorato
Rated PG-13 for some suggestive content.; 91 min; Directed By Mark Steven Johnson