SYNOPSIS:
Set in the world of Renaissance Faires - unique societies of actors, singers, glass-blowers, ale merchants, sword-smiths, and other crafts people dedicated to preserving the living memory of the golden age of the European Renaissance - All's Faire in Love...is a film reminiscent of such successful films as Shakespeare In Love and The Princess Bride. The tale begins when college football star Will (Owen Benjamin) arrives at "All's Faire in Love... Renaissance Faire" to work off his class non-attendance obligation to Prof. Shockworthy (Cedric the Entertainer) by joining the rag-tag peasant Greenbriar Theater Troupe.
The same is true for Kate (Christina Ricci), a performer who left her investment banking opportunities to join her cousin Jo (Louise Griffiths) to blossom on stage and in Will's heart. Will and Kate get the chance to prove themselves when the Faire's chief benefactress create the ultimate competition to determine who will be a "Royal" and who a "Common Peasant" threatening to hand over the Troupe's most coveted Shakespearean stage at the Faire - to a the treacherous and devious Troupe of Royal lead by Rank (Chris Wylde). Will and Kate must overcome all manner of opposition and treachery to prove their worth, win the day, and perhaps... together ...fall in love.
MOVIE
REVIEW:
When was the last time you saw Christina Ricci? Let us try to recall, the girl was in one of the shorts in New York, I Love You (2009), a psychedelically dressed Trixie in Speed Racer (2008), and kneeling beside Samuel L. Jackson on the poster of Black Snake Moan (2006). After making an impact with films like The Addams Family (1991) and Monster (2003), Ricci seems to have lost her shine, but still making her presence felt in some independent movies which allowed her to showcase her acting chops.
She has that, we are sure. Which is why this seems to be the only highlight of this 2009 romantic comedy directed by Scott Marshall. Everything else in this 103 movie is, well, bland. That probably also explains why local audiences never saw this being released in cinemas.
Ricci plays an investment banker to work at a renaissance fair. For the not so well informed, these fairs are outdoor events which emulate a historic period for the amusement of its guests. There is a theme park atmosphere and there are many costumed entertainers, musical and theatrical acts, as well as art handicrafts for sale. Anyway, Ricci meets Owen Benjamin’s college student at the fair. He has been assigned to work there after missing classes in school. And as the title (or for that matter, the DVD cover) will tell you, the two will fall in love. Yes, they will also don those antique looking costumes to lock their lips. Oh, they will also have some quarrels over differences and priorities, before culminating in this scene fit for a happy ending.
Predictability – that’s the thing which gets to us these days. And when a rom-com like that comes along, we sit through the movie, feeling uninspired and bored. It doesn’t help that the cast does not leave any lasting impression. Benjamin’s chemistry with Ricci seems mismatched, but for the two to carry on in the midst of costumed participants and fair goers, audiences are appropriately distracted by the array of colours and variety going on in the background.
The context of the movie also gives an opportunity for the scriptwriters to pen some witty dialogue which references the past and present. In the hands of a more ingenious writer, we would be chuckling and sniggering at the lines. Here, however, we are left in the cold as the characters recite their lackluster and lifeless lines which are not particularly funny.
Supported by relatively unknown actors like Matthew Lillard and Nadine Velaquez, this comes across as a TV movie to be played in the background while the family scurries to get its weekend chores done.
SPECIAL FEATURES :
NIL
AUDIO/VISUAL:
We do not have any complaints about visual transfer of the movie. It is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0.
MOVIE RATING:
DVD
RATING :
Review
by John Li
Posted on 30 January 2011 |
