Leap Year (2010) * * *

Directed by:  Anand Tucker

Starring:  Amy Adams, Matthew Goode, Adam Scott, John Lithgow

We don't watch a movie like Leap Year to be surprised by plot twists.    It is a dependable romantic comedy which serves to reconfirm our faith that such movies can, and do, work.    It does work.    The considerable charm of its leads, Amy Adams and Matthew Goode, carry it along.    Sometimes all you need are good actors to take us where we want to go.

As Leap Year opens, Anna (Adams) and her boyfriend Jeremy (Scott), a local doctor, dream of purchasing a condo in the most exclusive building in Boston.     The condo board prefers the two at least be engaged, although never spells it out.    Jeremy, who for the most part seems like an ok guy, is called away on business to Ireland and has not proposed to Anna as yet.     Anna hears of an Irish tradition in which if she proposes to Jeremy on Leap Day, he must accept her proposal.     What Jeremy thinks of this is immaterial to the plot.     So Anna takes the next plane to Ireland in hopes of surprising him with a proposal, which he'll feel duty bound to accept.     That's a good way to start a marriage:  to essentially strong arm the guy into it via some obscure Irish tradition.

The plane is diverted to Wales due to weather and Anna is able to ferry her way across rough seas to Cork, Ireland, which seems a million miles removed from Dublin in more ways than one.     The local hotel/bar/restaurant/taxicab service is run by bearded, ruggedly handsome Declan (Goode), who doesn't care for Anna and cares even less for Dublin, but agrees to drive her there for 500 Euro (don't know the exchange rate-but it sounds like a lot).    As expected with road movies, the two start out at mutual dislike, move to a guarded truce, become friends, and eventually fall for each other.    The travel issues they encounter only serve to move the aforementioned progression forward.   

Amy Adams is so sweet, vulnerable, and romantic that we just want to hug her.    She has more smiles than other actresses have expressions, like a 2010's version of Meg Ryan.    Her sweetness is a nice counterpoint to Goode's Declan, who has a chip on his shoulder and a hard exterior which only someone like Anna can penetrate.    It takes a lot of work, but she is up to the task.    Watch the scene in which Declan wakes up to think Anna has jumped on the next bus to Dublin.    She walks up quietly behind him holding two cups of coffee.    She sees through his body language how disappointed and heartbroken he is.    He doesn't know she is behind him.   It's the type of moment in which no words are said and none need to be.    It is the moment we wait for in movies like Leap Year.