"When in Rome" totally fails to captivate audiences, scraping the bottom of the barrel with its predictable plot lines and mundane characters. Kristen Bell, who starred in the show "Veronica Mars" (2004−2007) and plays the infamous voice of Gossip Girl on the eponymous show, attempts to break away from television roles and take on Hollywood in this blundering romantic comedy. Alongside Bell is B−list actor Josh Duhamel, whose only contributions to the film are his charming, pretty− boy good looks.
"When in Rome" follows Bell's character, Beth, a cynical curator who decries the existence of real love. While attending her sister's wedding in Rome, Beth steals a few coins from the fountain of love in an effort to force romance into her life. Beth gets more than she bargains for when she realizes a horde of suitors are all vying for her love under the power of this spell.
The storyline continues to unravel this growing web of love, while focusing on the blossoming relationship between Beth and a sportswriter named Nick (Duhamel). The film, with its sappy dialogue and complete lack of chemistry between Bell and Duhamel, fails to impress. As well as the awkward height disparity, with Duhamel towering well over a foot above the petite Bell, there are simply no emotional sparks between the two actors.
Aside from the uninspiring storyline, "When in Rome" does bring a few laughs every now and then. "Rome" director Mark Steven Johnson includes character sketches starring Jon Heder and Efren Ramirez from the cult hit "Napoleon Dynamite" (2004). Though the two actors are hilarious, Johnson's reliance on their appearances for comic relief highlights his lack of originality as a storyteller. However, with lackluster performances by Bell and Duhamel, audiences will appreciate the revival of the laugh−out−loud antics between this comedic duo.
Alongside the second−hand comedy, Duhamel's model physique saves the film from being completely lacking in any kind of captivating characteristics. Many women will surely melt when they see Duhamel bust a move on the dance floor and flash audiences his trademark smile. And, at times, even the men in the audience will find Bell's comedic charm captivating, making the film slightly one notch above awful.
But overall, Johnson stumbles in the direction of the film, miscasting the bubbly blonde Bell to play a cynical, type−A working woman opposite the handsome but emotionless Duhamel. Although Bell and Duhamel strive to mold the script into respectable performances, their efforts are fruitless and should be awarded with the Razzie Award for Worst Actress and Worst Actor, respectively, along with director Johnson's Razzie Award for Worst Picture.
"When in Rome" is a faltering romantic comedy that should simply have gone straight to DVD. Try as they might, Bell and Duhamel's lack of charisma and their weak acting chops prove that they aren't cut out for the big screen.
Ultimately, "When in Rome" is sure to upset any expectation, no matter how low it might be. Rather than paying money to see this film in theaters, viewers should be paid to see this awful debacle of a romantic comedy.
