Chasing Liberty in theaters! |
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Rating:
4 out of 5 |
| Anna Foster (Mandy Moore) is 18 years old and ready for independence. She's going to college in the fall and in the meantime, all she wants is a date. Unfortunately, the battalion of secret service agents dogging her every move makes that very, very difficult. The only daughter of the President of the United States, Anna spend her entire life watched by the media and the public and safeguarded by her own set of Secret Service agents. She can't make a move alone, but while on a trip to Europe, Anna gets her father to promise to a free night in which she isn't surrounded by security. When she finds out that he's gone back on his word, she takes off, escaping her security and taking along British free-lance photographer Ben Calder along for the ride. As Anna traipse across Europe experiencing a freedom she's never had, her parents have sent out agents to look for her and bring her back to safety. While staying ahead of her bodyguards and experiencing life, she becomes closer and closer to Ben and wonders how she'll tell him who she really is when it's time to go back to her real life. But what Anna hadn't taken into account was that everyone has secrets.
Those expecting to see a saccharine-sweet PR sanitized Mandy Moore should go see another movie. Unlike many other teen singers who decide to make the move to movies, Mandy tends towards characters that are flawed and tragically human. One needs to look at her performance in 'How to Deal' to see she isn't afraid of emotion and embarrassment and 'Chasing Liberty,' her newest vehicle, follows that trend. While a romantic comedy, 'Chasing Liberty' is not a typical 2 hour fluff-fest. The ages of the characters allow for greater range and more reality. Bouts of nudity, while not actually shown, do much to age the film and reinforce the grown-up image Mandy has been trying to portray. It is easy to draw parallels between Moore and the character she portrays. Moore, who has been in the public eye since the release of her debut album at 14, can also understand what it is like to be constantly under scrutiny in the public eye. It is this lifestyle that possibly lends credence to her role as the besieged and sheltered daughter of the President of the United States.
'Chasing Liberty' also stars British newcomer Matthew Goode. Primarily a stage actor, 'Chasing Liberty' marks his big screen debut. Charming and wildly attractive, Goode was ideal to play the part of Ben Calder. Even if the movie as a whole weren't worthwhile to watch, it would still be worth it just to see Goode on screen. More than eye candy, his charm and wit brings a weight to the movie and adds a touch of elegance. (It's the accent.)
Watch the movie. Drag your boyfriends/significant others to check it out. But due to vague sexual situations and brief nudity, I'd reccommend you be at least 16 years old to watch it.
- Caroline Kim, Movie Reviews Editor
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