Kate & Leopold (2001) * * *

Directed by:  James Mangold

Starring:  Hugh Jackman, Meg Ryan, Liev Schrieber, Natahsa Lyonne, Breckin Meyer, Bradley Whitford

Kate & Leopold is a sweet combination of two genres of which I'm a sucker:  Romantic comedy and time travel fantasy.     In this case, Leopold, the third Duke of Albany (Jackman), follows another time traveler through a portal from 1876 Manhattan to present-day Manhattan.     How does the portal exist?    Do not even try to figure that out.    Your head will explode.    Just go with it. 

Leopold is a rich nobleman fascinated by science and progressive ideas.     When he wakes up in 21st century Manhattan, he is absolutely aghast at the inventions that have come along, while puzzled by the informality in which people lead their lives.     When fed a meal of chicken and tater tots, he asks when the second course will commence and is stunned to discover there won't be one.     His Leopold carries himself with dignity and manners, but everyone else is in too big of a hurry to pause to observe such things.     One of those people is Kate McKay (Ryan), an advertising executive who is the neighbor/ex-girlfriend of the time traveler, named Stuart (Schrieber), that Leopold followed through the portal.    

She thinks Leopold is odd and thinks he dresses like "Sgt. Pepper", but he is charming and handsome.    The scales begin to fall from her eyes when she witnesses him chase down the thief who stole her purse on horseback.      She also sees him as the perfect pitchman for a margarine campaign she is spearheading in hopes of landing a promotion.     Never mind that the stuff, "tastes like saddle soap," per Leopold.    Kate explains in her own world-weary way that ethics must sometimes be put aside in favor of earning a living.   

Also in the mix is Kate's brother Charlie (Meyer), an actor who thinks Leopold is also an actor who is deep, deep into character.     "You are so method," he tells Leopold with utter reverence.      Despite all of the fun everyone is having and the potential romance blossoming between Kate and Leopold, Stuart knows Leopold will have to return to 1876 in order to set the universe right again.

Kate is a challenging love interest for Leopold and this is one of the film's strengths.    She is still hurting from her breakup with Stuart and focusing on a promotion at work.     She is dog-tired and doesn't know if she has another relationship left in her.     Kate is not a mark simply waiting for Leopold to sweep her off her feet.     She provides some pushback for very practical reasons.  

The actors jump into the material with zeal.     They buy it, and therefore so do we.    Romantic comedies and time travel fantasies are indeed fantasies that, if done well, continue to work.    This one does.    If you are the type of person who will point out all of the improbabilities in the time travel subplot, then Kate & Leopold is not for you.