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"LEAP YEAR"
(2010) (Amy Adams, Matthew Goode) (PG)

Alcohol/
Drugs
Blood/Gore Disrespectful/
Bad Attitude
Frightening/
Tense Scenes
Guns/
Weapons
Extreme Moderate Heavy Moderate None
Imitative
Behavior
Jump
Scenes
Music
(Scary/Tense)
Music
(Inappropriate)
Profanity
Heavy Mild None None Mild
Sex/
Nudity
Smoking Tense Family
Scenes
Topics To
Talk About
Violence
Moderate None Moderate Moderate Moderate


QUICK TAKE:
Romantic Comedy: A career woman travels to Ireland, hoping to use an old Irish tradition that allows women to propose to men every Feb. 29th to ask her commitment-phobic boyfriend to marry her.
PLOT:
Anna (AMY ADAMS) is a Boston-based career woman who has dated cardiologist Jeremy (ADAM SCOTT) for nearly four years. Anna is ready to take the relationship to the next level and get married. Jeremy, though, doesn't seem to have any interest in making such a long-term commitment. Instead, he goes on an extended business trip to Ireland.

Sad and depressed, Anna surfs the Web one night and comes up with the perfect solution. She will fly over to Dublin and surprise Jeremy on Feb. 29th, a date that happens every four years that many Europeans treat as a day in which it's socially acceptable for the woman to ask the man for his hand in marriage.

One problem: a fierce storm has forced Anna's plane to land on the other side of the country. She hooks up with Declan (MATTHEW GOODE), a hunky tavern owner who needs cash quick to keep the lenders at bay. He consequently decides to drive her to Dublin himself for a fee. Amid much bickering, the two fall in love.

What follows is a road comedy in which this mismatched, oil-and-water pair become kindred spirits. At the end of the road, though, is Jeremy and Anna's feelings for him.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
Teenage girls may have some interest, especially those who enjoyed Adams' performance in "Enchanted" three years ago.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG
For sensuality and language.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
  • AMY ADAMS plays a career woman living in Boston who has no clue when her boyfriend of four years is going to propose to her. She decides to take the initiative and surprise him on a business trip in Dublin. There, her plan is to use the old Irish tradition that encourages women in love to ask their boyfriends to marry them every Feb. 29th. She is a casual drinker who gets very drunk in one scene.
  • MATTHEW GOODE plays an Irish tavern owner who owes money to some local lenders. As a result, he takes Anna up on her offer for him to drive her to Dublin to surprise her boyfriend. He is essentially a good guy, still smarting from his former fiancée cheating on him with his friend. He is a casual drinker.
  • ADAM SCOTT plays Anna's commitment-phobic boyfriend, a cardiologist by trade. He is a social drinker and enjoys trading pictures of surgeries in progress with colleagues via camera phone.
  • JOHN LITHGOW plays Anna's down-on-his-luck father, who has been victimized multiple times by make-money schemes.
  • CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

    HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE


    Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
    Then read OUR TAKE of this film.


    (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).


    OUR WORD TO PARENTS:
    The following is a brief summary of the content found in this romantic comedy that has been rated PG. Profanity consists of at least 4 hells and a handful of other expletives while numerous colorful phrases are also uttered. Non-explicit, sexually related dialogue is present, while some people are seen scantly attired and there's some unrelated kissing.

    Violence consists of a bar fight in which multiple punches are thrown, leaving two men knocked unconscious. Later, a bride is inadvertently hit with a flying, high-heel shoe that leaves a fairly graphic forehead wound. Some lightly played peril is also present.

    Bad attitudes are present, as is some potentially imitative behavior and various thematic elements. Drinking is on display throughout, including drunkenness.

    If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.


    ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE
  • During the opening credits, Anna drinks wine while waiting for someone in a bar.
  • Nearby, a male bar customer is shown drinking shots along with a beer.
  • Anna's father first orders champagne at a bar, checks his wallet, and then asks for a beer instead.
  • Multiple customers are shown drinking wine and other spirits in a restaurant scene involving Anna and Jeremy.
  • At Declan's tavern, several customers are shown drinking beers.
  • One man is so drunk, he loses his balance and falls hard on the floor face-forward.
  • After losing his car, Declan is shown drinking beer at a local bar. So, too, are several patrons around him.
  • Anna and Declan drink wine while cooking.
  • Declan, Amy and other guests at the inn they are staying at drink whiskey during a communal dinner.
  • Anna and Declan crash a wedding reception in which much wine and other spirits are being served and consumed.
  • Anna is shown drinking at least one martini at the wedding, then is later shown quite drunk with an empty bottle of booze.
  • Declan drinks a beer in a Dublin bar while waiting for a past love.
  • Anna, Jeremy and multiple guests drink wine at an engagement party back in Boston.
  • Many beers and other alcoholic beverages are shown being served and consumed at Declan's bar during the film's climax.
  • BLOOD/GORE
  • Jeremy and his colleagues trade somewhat graphic photos on their camera phones of surgeries in progress.
  • Declan and a local lender agree on a payment plan by spitting in their palms and then shaking hands.
  • Anna's high-heeled shoe flies off and hits the bride at a wedding, resulting in an unsightly wound on her forehead.
  • Anna vomits all over Declan's shoes while drunk.
  • DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE
  • Anna spends only a few minutes with her father in a bar after he shows up late.
  • On a trans-Atlantic flight, Anna drones on and on about her life, putting the Catholic priest sitting next to her asleep.
  • Anna throws a fit and is rude to airline personnel when her flight to Dublin is diverted to Wales on account of bad weather.
  • An airline staffer sarcastically tells Anna that she'll call Dublin's airport and have them open up one runway just for her.
  • Declan gives Anna the number of a taxicab company, but it's really his phone line in his tavern's kitchen. He gets on the other line and fakes that he is a cab driver who won't come to pick her up.
  • Anna mockingly calls Declan's modest tavern/bed & breakfast "Just like the Four Seasons."
  • After Declan learns that Anna's suitcase is an expensive one, he goes out of his way to be rough with it in putting it in the trunk of his car.
  • In typical romantic-comedy fashion, Anna and Declan are comically hostile towards each other for much of the film. She treats him like an unsophisticated simpleton, he treats her like a spoiled and pampered princess.
  • Declan puts down Dublin as a city full of "cheats," "back-stabbing snakes" and the like.
  • Declan burps while he is eating and driving with Anna in the car.
  • Anna throws the sandwich Declan is eating out a car window while he is driving. She then throws out a mix tape of annoying songs.
  • When Anna tells Declan that she has come to Ireland to propose to her boyfriend, invoking an old Irish tradition, he laughs and scoffs, "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."
  • Three men trick Anna into coming with them only to steal her suitcase.
  • The three thieves are later shown going through the suitcase and playing with Anna's underwear.
  • Anna and Declan lie to an inn owner that they are married so she'll let them stay the night.
  • Declan lies to Anna that he was able to see through the shower curtain while she was naked and washing herself.
  • Declan blurts out "Jesus Christ" from the back of a church while a wedding is going on.
  • Anna vomits all over Declan's shoes while drunk.
  • FRIGHTENING SCENES
  • When the airplane Anna is riding in hits some turbulence, oxygen masks spring from the ceiling.
  • Anna tries to make it to Ireland from Wales in a boat during a really intense storm that thrashes the craft from side to side.
  • Anna confronts three men who stole her suitcase in the back room of a bar. They surround in a very threatening manner and are likely about to assault her when Declan barges in.
  • GUNS/WEAPONS
  • None.
  • IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR
  • Phrases: "Damn it, man," "What the hell are you doing," "What in the hell are you doing here," "Like hell," "Why the hell not," "That's a load of poo," "Jackass," "Idiot," "You big jerk," "You're a beast," "Don't sit around like some country, Irish bumpkin," "You lying, deceiving son-of-a...," "Pukey," "You cheeky rascal," "Which one of you bollocks thinks my chicken is too dry" and "Shut up."
  • Anna and Jeremy live together and are not married.
  • Jeremy and his colleagues trade somewhat graphic photos on their cellphones of surgeries in progress.
  • A priest snores on a plane.
  • Anna foolishly wears stylish high heels regardless of the situation, terrain, weather, etc.
  • Declan gives Anna the number of a taxicab company, but it's really his phone line in his tavern's kitchen. He gets on the other line and fakes that he is a cab driver who won't come to pick her up.
  • Declan and a local lender agree on a payment plan by spitting in their palms and then shaking hands.
  • Several locals in Declan's small hometown are afraid of a black cat crossing their path.
  • Declan eats while driving and burps.
  • Anna throws the sandwich Declan is eating out a car window while he is driving. She then throws out a mix tape of annoying songs.
  • Three men scam Anna and ultimately steal her expensive suitcase.
  • The three thieves are later shown rifling through the suitcase and playing with Anna's underwear.
  • Declan briefly makes a spitting sound when telling a story.
  • During a communal dinner at a bed and breakfast, two other couples share long, lingering kisses and then goad Anna and Declan into doing the same.
  • Anna pulls a fire alarm (off screen) as a means of testing Jeremy to see what items from their apartment he finds most valuable.
  • JUMP SCENES
  • When the airplane Anna is riding in hits some turbulence, oxygen masks spring from the ceiling.
  • A dog snarl-barks at Anna when she tries to pet him.
  • MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)
  • None.
  • MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)
  • None.
  • PROFANITY
  • At least 4 hells, 1 bollocks, 1 damn, 1 incomplete "son of a…" 2 uses of "For God's sakes" and 1 use each of "Jesus" and "Jesus Christ."
  • SEX/NUDITY
  • Declan barges in on Anna when she is wearing only a bra and panties. She quickly covers up.
  • Three men who stole Anna's suitcase are later shown going through it and playing with her underwear.
  • Declan tells Anna the story of a princess and a warrior who end up having sex in a castle (he mentions that they consummate their love - and Anna, who has been into the story up until this point, misreads him and thinks that he is using the story as a way of making a pass at her).
  • Declan watches a silhouetted Anna behind a curtain showering.
  • Anna does the same when it is Declan's turn to use the shower.
  • Both Anna and Declan emerge from their respective showers wearing towels.
  • Over dinner at a bed and breakfast, two other couples share very long, lingering kisses and then goad Anna and Declan into doing the same.
  • Anna wears a nightgown that shows some cleavage.
  • Anna and Declan share a bed together for one night. No sex occurs, but they do wake up very close the next morning.
  • SMOKING
  • None.
  • TENSE FAMILY SCENES
  • Anna claims she has not seen her father in weeks and agrees to meet him in a bar. When he is late, she penalizes him by only staying a couple of minutes. No mention is made of her mother.
  • We later learn that Anna's dad was victimized throughout his life by a series of failed money-making schemes. The family's lack of money allowed their house to be foreclosed upon on Christmas Eve and forced Anna to have pay for many of the bills.
  • TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT
  • Have we progressed as a society to the point where it is socially acceptable for the woman to ask a man to marry her?
  • Irish history and heritage.
  • The importance of adapting to another culture when visiting their country.
  • VIOLENCE
  • One man is so drunk in Declan's bar, he loses his balance and falls hard on the floor face-forward.
  • By mistake, Anna allows Declan's unattended car to go careening down a steep road only to crash in a ditch.
  • While trying to run for a train, Anna falls down a long, steep hill and gets very muddy.
  • Anna briefly bumps her head.
  • Declan gets into a bar fight with three men who are harassing Anna. Multiple punches are thrown, and Declan ends up knocking out two of the three. The third man flees.
  • While searching a farm's backyard for ingredients to make a stew, Declan picks up a live chicken and breaks its neck.
  • Anna's high-heeled shoe flies off during a wedding dance and hits the bride square in the forehead, causing a wound.



  • Reviewed December 10, 2009 / Posted January 8, 2010

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