When In Rome whisks audiences away

When in Rome, starring Kristin Bell and Josh Duhamel, is the latest romantic comedy to hit theaters — just in time for the Valentine's Day season.

The story is centered on Beth (Bell), a dedicated curator at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City who attends her sister's wedding in Rome. After a drunken reception, Beth takes five coins from the Fountain of Love and, upon returning to New York, finds that strange events start occurring, turning her life upside down.

The hour-and-a-half long film is the perfect length, giving the audience a chance to get immersed in the character's lives without thinking too long about the unrealistic plot, which is the purpose of this type of film.

Bell does a good job portraying a strong, yet vulnerable girl who practically spends her life in the museum but would rather find the love of her life. Duhamel, playing the tall, dark and handsome Nick, who meets Beth at her sister's wedding, has a captivating charm. The two have a wonderful chemistry that will make the audience melt.

The film has many other well-known actors that get more than just bit parts in the script and are extremely funny additions to the story. From Angelica Houston as Celeste, the stern director of the Guggenheim, to Danny DeVito as Al, a patron of the arts that becomes infatuated with Beth, there are numerous chuckle-inducing actors to fill the screen.
Also on the cast are: Will Arnett playing Antonio, a painter in search of a muse; Dax Shepard playing Gale, a very confident male model; and Jon Heder, playing a magician named Lance who looks like Criss Angel. All these actors together create nonstop laughter in the theater. It's great casting on the part of the director.

The film was directed by Mark Steve Johnson, who also directed the 1998 movie Simon Birch. Though his credits do not include romantic comedies, this film is done well. The transitions from scene to scene are clear, no story pieces are missing, and all the characters' relationships are well-developed. At the end of the film, there are no unanswered questions. Johnson chose to shoot the film both on location in Rome, Italy and around New York City, focusing mainly on the Guggenheim.

Many romantic comedies have been released in the past few years, but very few have indulged in the fantastical view of love that these films are known for. The perfect date movie, When in Rome, takes the audience there but also has moments of truth that everyone can relate to.