Not everyone will fall in love with ‘Rome’

Duhamel rings a Bell in ‘When in Rome’

The story: When in Rome (not to be confused with the Olsen twin movie by the same title) is your basic story about an art gallery workaholic (Kristen Bell) who dives into a love-granting fountain in Rome to fetch some coins while in a drunken “I am going to be single forever” stupor (raise your hand if you can relate). In doing so, she sets off a magical spell where the owners of said coins stalk her – including Josh “Mr. Fergie-licious” Duhamel; who may or may not be under the spell.

Snap judgment: From the assuming formulaic story, critics will not like this movie. I think it may be too happy for them. And we all know that people are looking for really, really, really depressing stories or movies about CGI’d blue people to please them.

Cheesy but charming: C’mon – it’s a romantic comedy. Would you expect anything less? It is formulaic. It is predictable. It is cheesy. I don’t know if this is necessarily a bad thing but Duhamel is as charming as a bucket of Ken dolls. In any movie he is in, his smile and jock-meets-baby boy face will charm the pants off of you – literally and figuratively. For the next five years, he’s going to be the go-to guy as the love interest.

The modern fairytale: The is rom-com aimed at the tween and hopeless romantic demographic (hence the numerous “awwwww” moments in the theater). That said, it will reel in the appropriate people. It’s enjoyably shallow and all non-believers of love know that stuff like this never happens. Never. Other movies have handled this magical love story structure better (please reference Enchanted or even Big).

Kristen does comedy? She handles slapstick well – and she can be really funny when the moment calls for it. She’s not great, but she’s not terrible.

Funniest moment of the movie? It wasn’t from any of the lead actors; but from Kristen Schaal (from Flight of the Conchords) as the creepy and clueless dining-in-the-dark waitress. I was LOL’ing all over the place.

Strong support – like a jock strap: The supporting cast makes the movie bearable: Anjelica Huston as the Devil Wears Prada-esque boss; Jon Heder does his impression as a delusional Criss Angel type; Will Arnett as the artist with the foot fetish; Danny Devito as the stalking “sausage” king; and Dax Shepard as the narcisstic model with the heart made of mirrors – and even Ghostface Killah is all up in that movie! Well, at least in the beginning he is.

Eyebrow tangent: It may have been just me, but Kristen Bell’s eyebrows were freakishly thin in the very beginning of the film…I’m just saying.

Overall critique: It is a blatant product of Hollywood’s romantic comedy machine. And that’s what is exactly what it is. The movie wasn’t trying to be anything else. It’s entertaining and best of all, it requires NO critical thinking. Grade: C+