Variety

By Mark Adams 

LONDON (Variety) - All of the elements are in place for the romantic comedy "Hope Springs": an attractive and talented cast, witty script, nice direction and glorious locations. 

But somehow it can't make the leap from an enjoyable light film to a movie to remember. Boxoffice looks to be moderate, but expect a longer life in the DVD/video marketplace. The film premiered at England's Bradford Film Festival and gets a U.K. release in early May. 

Writer-director Mark Herman has adapted the 2001 book "New Cardiff" by Charles Webb, best remembered from his 1962 debut novel, "The Graduate." The script pretty closely follows the story of a disillusioned Englishman who heads to the picturesque New England town of Hope to start life over. 

Colin Ware (played with real charm by Colin Firth) is an illustrator, recently dumped by his fiancee, Vera (Minnie Driver), who sends him an invitation to her wedding to another man. He thus arrives heartbroken and jet-lagged in this charming small American town. As a sign reads, "18,459 people live in Hope." 

Joanie (Mary Steenburgen), the matchmaking landlady of the local motel, promptly introduces him to Mandy (Heather Graham), a trained "caregiver" who works at the local old folks home. Before long, she has broken through his grief and introduced a little sex into his life. Soon he is planning a series of pencil portraits of locals. 

The fly in this romantic ointment comes in the form of Vera, who arrives in Hope to announce the wedding invitation was just a joke to try to get Colin to commit. She wants him to return to England with her. This all, of course, leads to a heady triangle of love, jealousy and confusion with Colin forced to make a few difficult life decisions. 

The early scenes of Colin arriving in Hope feel heavy-handed -- uncomfortable Greyhound bus, stumbling jet lag, etc. -- and Firth seems ill at ease playing more physical comedy. Later in the story, the script's wit and his impressive line delivery carries the film. Firth certainly has the charm and style to be a romantic lead, but too often here he has to be dry and sour. It is a leap of faith to ask an audience to believe he can change so dramatically. 

Graham's role as Mandy allows her to be little more than a warmhearted local girl with only hints of problems from her past slipped into the script. As with many of her films, she is down to her underwear within a half-hour. While this is a very attractive proposition, her seduction of Colin feels telegraphed and clumsy. 

As a contrast, Driver as vampish Vera gets to wear the designer gear and come out with an array of barbed line deliveries. Whether railing about her inability to smoke anywhere in town or verbally abusing aging golfers, Driver does a great job in showing Vera as a smart, contriving woman. She also manages to get down to her underwear as she tries to seduce Colin, proving it is not just Heather Graham territory. 

Herman does a fine job but can't make the story leap from a lightweight, endearing film to a really fine romantic comedy. His direction is efficient, and he makes good use of the locations in British Columbia (nicely doubling for New England). The casting of Oliver Platt, as the town's mayor, and Steenburgen is inspired, with both bringing class and laughs to the proceedings. 

Buena Vista Pictures, Fragile Films 

Cast: 

Colin Ware: Colin Firth 
Mandy: Heather Graham 
Vera: Minnie Driver 
Joanie Fisher: Mary Steenburgen 
Doug Reed: Oliver Platt 
Fisher: Frank Collinson 

Screenwriter-director: Mark Herman 
Based on the book "New Cardiff" by Charles Webb 
Producer: Barnaby Thompson 
Executive producer: Uri Fruchtman 
Director of photography: Ashley Rowe 
Production designer: Don Taylor 
Music: John Altman 
Editor: Michael Ellis 

Reuters/VNU 
 
 

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