Kate & Leopold

Plot synopsis:
On 28 April 1876, Leopold, His Grace the 3rd Duke of Albany (Hugh Jackman), is a stifled dreamer. He has created a design for a primitive elevator, and has built a small model of this device. His strict uncle Millard (Paxton Whitehead) has no patience for what he characterises as a sign of Leopold's disrespect for the Monarchy, chastising him, and telling him he must marry a rich American, as the Mountbatten family finances are depleted. In response to his uncle's accusations of his blemishing the family name, Leopold counters that the new nobility is to be found in those who pursue initiatives, hence his interest in the sciences and inventions.
One day, the Duke finds Stuart Besser (Liev Schreiber), an amateur physicist (and great-great-grandson of Leopold) in his study perusing his schematic diagrams and taking photographs of them. He had seen him earlier at Roebling's speech about the Brooklyn Bridge, after he was laughing at the word "erection." Leopold follows Stuart and tries to save him from falling off the unfinished bridge, only to fall with him into a temporal portal between centuries that Stuart has used to travel to 1876.
Leopold awakens in 21st century New York City. He is at first confused and thinks that he has been kidnapped. Stuart says that he has created formulae to forecast portals in the temporal universe and that Leopold must stay inside his apartment until the portal opens again a week later. As Stuart takes his dog out, he is injured by falling into the elevator shaft, and is eventually institutionalized for speaking about his scientific discovery. According to Stuart's books, Leopold's unintentional time travel to the 21st century appears to have caused a disruption of all elevators, on account of his leaving the 19th century before he could register for a patent for his own device.
Leopold is intrigued by the cynical and ambitious Kate McKay (Meg Ryan), Stuart's ex-girlfriend, who comes to the apartment for her Palm Pilot stylus. He observes that she is a "career woman" and that her field, market research, is a fine avocation for a woman, and states that he once dated a librarian from Sussex. Kate dismisses him and demands that he take Stuart's dog for a walk. Leopold is overwhelmed to see that Roebling's bridge is still standing. Back at the apartment, he befriends Charlie (Breckin Meyer), Kate's brother and an actor between gigs, who believes him to be an actor as well, steadfast to his character.
Kate and Leopold become romantically involved as they dine and tour New York.
Leopold agrees to act in a diet margarine commercial for one of Kate's clients, but walks off the set after finding the product disgusting. He and Kate argue, with Leopold chastising her about integrity, and Kate bristling about his moralising and countering that he lacks connection with reality. Realising that their time together is nearly over, both spend the evening in subdued contemplation. Stuart suddenly returns to his apartment, having escaped from the mental hospital, and sends Leopold back to his own time.
Afterwards, Stuart and Charlie notice Kate in the photos Stuart took at Leopold's ball, and realise that her destiny must be to go back and be with Leopold. That night, while Kate is accepting her promotion at a company banquet, he and Charlie race to meet her and show her the pictures. Kate initially rejects their overtures and goes on to give her acceptance speech, but it is there that she sees Stuart's picture and realises that she truly wants to be with Leopold.
Kate abruptly ends her speech, and the three of them rush to the Brooklyn Bridge. Kate makes it to the portal before it closes and reappears in 1876, where Leopold appears resigned to his marriage of convenience. Just before Leopold announces his bride, Kate bursts into the building, and he announces her name instead, referring to her as being one the McKays of Massapequa. In amongst the shocked guests, Kate and Leopold reunite with a kiss and dance a bridal waltz.

Tags: romantic, fantasy, alternate history

Review:
If you can accept the totally ridiculous premise of KATE AND LEOPOLD and enjoy romantic fantasies of this sort, you'll find yourself drawn into the plot because of the very charismatic HUGH JACKMAN.
He is the main reason for watching and carries the film on his sturdy shoulders, so adept is he at being a "knight in shining armor".As for MEG RYAN, she is giving her usual Meg Ryan schtick--a sort of slightly brighter version of Goldie Hawn--but here it doesn't matter because Jackman manages to steal every scene he's in.
But it's the time travel aspect of the story that is its weakest link.Highly recommended as a romantic comedy that owes much of its charm to the performance of its leading man--an actor of remarkable skill whose hunky presence dominates much of the movie.It's the sort of romantic fluff that would have starred JEAN ARTHUR and GARY COOPER had it been made in the '30s.
However, he and Meg Ryan had little on screen chemistry.If you like silly romantic comedies, or if you just like Hugh Jackman, I would advise you to check out this film.
Kate's brother has found a way to travel through time, meets Leopold and accidentally takes him with him to the 21st century.
I guess I don't have to explain everything that happens afterward...Even though I'm not always a huge fan of romantic comedies, I have to admit that I had a good time watching this one.
Leopold meets Kate (Meg Ryan) and...well, you can figure it out from there.The movie looks beautiful, is VERY romantic and Jackman is incredibly handsome, sexy, funny...God, those eyes of his...but this movie is really dumb.
There are some plot turns that are unbelievable (the time travel is never explained; Jackman saves Ryan's purse from a mugger on horseback--literally; Jackman gets used to the 21st century way too quickly; do New Yorkers always leave their windows open so someone can clamber in off the fire escape?).
However, Breckin Meyer is very good and funny as her brother.The only reason to see the movie is Jackman--he's just great.
Kate and Leopold is a diverse little romantic movie about a Duke (Hugh Jackman) from the 19th century, and modern day wanderers, including a love-depressed Kate, (Meg Ryan), her ex-boyfriend, Stuart, (Liev Shrieber), and her brother, Charlie, (Breken Meyer).
I mean, overlooking the time travel thing - it wasn't badly thought out actually - I found myself thinking that Kate and Leopold really didn't have that much chemistry.
He made it enjoyable to watch, especially in the scenes where his character is teaching Kate's brother about women (ironic though, since he's never been in love before).
This movie is good to pass time, it's OK entertainment, but it lacks the emotional appeal and chemistry of so many other romantic comedies out there..
'Kate and Leopald' is a typical romantic comedy, only this time one of the protagonists travels from the 30s (?) to modern day New York.
You can ask lots of question like how Leopold adapts to modern New York so quickly or how would an ultra-modern Kate (who's never travelled) make it in 30's (?) England (?) So one could enjoy it a little if they suspend their beliefs.
James Mangold's Kate and Leopold is another cutesy love story with time travel involved though that's just the baseline.
Then her old ex (Liev Schreiber) travels back in time 125 years into the past, accidentaly brings back his great-great grandfather who was a duke in his time (Leopold played by Hugh Jackman who is amusing in more times than one) and is now in today's New York.
For the crowd who will want to see this movie, they won't be disappointed with the usual charm Ryan brings and the cordial performance of Jackman.
From the very beginning, with that vintage sepia scenery of 1876 New York, to the very end, where Sting delight us with that touching performance of 'Until' (which Sting himself confessed wrote being transported by the romanticism of the movie);  this movie drives you through your heart, your mind, your soul, unwinding deep feelings that our day-to-day life bury inside us, but that are so immense that cannot be extinguish, even with the cold routine in which we dwell.Using time leap as a metaphor between the way we live in present times and all those little things that we long so badly but that we ourselves deny or just give up in the search,  the story open a parenthesis in the crazy rhythm of the today New York and involve the characters -and ourselves- in a mixture of true romanticism and happiness that taste like a virgin flavor in our stone lips.
Facing issues like post-breaking relationships and career success versus personal life success, the plot fill us with joy and laughter that makes us even cry when we realize all that we have at our fingertips and that we miss.The acting was very natural and the five main actors deliver the characters very well.
Meg give us her "ugly duck" charming prettiness that is already her trademark and Hugh is perfect for the role: Tall, handsome, gallant, romantic...Definitely, one of the best movies (if not the one) I've seen this year -at least.
Brecken Meyer is good, Liev Schrieber is solid, Jackman is on the ball and the best part of this movie, and poor Meg looks like she left half her body wieght back in South America on the POL set.
The plot has many inconsistencies: the time travel is not explained, the problem with the elevators (why have they worked again?), the interest of Stuart in Leopold in the past (in the deleted scenes, there is a reference that Leopold and Stuart are relatives), how Kate, with her profile of stressed executive, would survive in the past only with love...
There are many, many condescending scenes of women being charmed by Leopold's courtly, old-world manners-- boy, ya gotta love any movie that asks ladies to romanticize a time when women were denied the right to vote and were essentially treated like empty-headed two-year-olds.As this mess grinds on, Kate, against her better judgement and repellent nature, starts falling for Leopold.
I had to watch "Kate and Leopold" with two minds, and keep shoving one of them back into its rational hole.Primarily, Ozzie Hugh Jackman (here as a Brit) is, as the fictional market research focus group in the movie put it, a hunk.
No film is "simply" a light, romantic comedy as some would have you believe Kate & Leopold is..
It is only when one releases themselves from the chains of reality and cynicism, does one know how to appreciate this light hearted film.It shows how easily manners and appreciation of time and (of all things) food can be so easily forgotten and that, like all romantic comedies, true love can only be achieved by overstepping that boundary, that leap of faith and that overwhelming feeling that no matter how absurd, it still feels right.One of the better experiences of such a film is the ongoing feeling that once we see the two main characters who we want to fall in love, we forget that there is this plot line in the background.
For any fan of Hugh Jackman, I definitely suggest this funny, romantic and well-thought movie.
Also, as Meg Ryan's "almost there actor" brother, Breckin Meyer also excelled- and possibly needed more screen time.
This aside, Kate and Leopold is yet another fantastic Hugh Jackman movie for fans of both romantic comedies and the gorgeous Australian actor.Although, for those few people out there who turn their noses up at a light, enjoyable movie- I direct this to you.
And for those who, quite bizarrely, refused to enjoy simple because of the casting- Hugh Jackman was superb, as was every other actor in this movie regardless of screen time (my only exception being Liev Schreiber).Lastly, just on a happy note- Kate and Leopold, although you may not like to admit it, is just one of those movies that gets better and better every time you see it; so why not rent it out and see for yourself :D.
Both Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman are good actors and are entertaining as a couple with fairly decent chemistry.
For Kate, the jaded advertising executive, is to observe the charming qualities in a true nobleman with impeccable manners and charm to disarm her.The interaction between Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman works here very well and they fill the screen with style and flair.
From 2001, "Kate and Leopold" is a beautiful film about love and time travel, reminiscent of "Berkeley Square" and "Somewhere in Time."An 18th century Duke (Hugh Jackman) follows time-traveler scientist Stuart (Liev Schreiber) in the time portal he's discovered on the Brooklyn Bridge, and winds up in New York in 2001.
There, he falls for an advertising executive, Kate McKay (Meg Ryan).This film actually puts forward the theory of quantum physics - past, present, and future going on at once, and it is delightful.I've had the privilege of seeing Hugh Jackman on stage three times.
You ought to really think about what happens to the flavor of the month ingenue once she hits 38-40 and open your minds to the fact that these women have a life beyond that.Sorry for the diatribe, but I really enjoyed this, with Breckin Meyer doing a good job as Kate's actor brother, Bradley Whitford as the man she's hoping to replace at work, and Schreiber as her ex-beau, Stuart, who brings chaos into her life.I think people did bring up historical inaccuracies.
She has a boring job, but she seems to like it and is climbing the career ladder, so unfortunately a lot of the movie seems to be spent on the ins and outs of her very dull working day as opposed to exploring all the things Leopold must be seeing for the first time in his new world.
Kate is very unlikeable for the first half of the movie as she's so mean to Leopold, then SUDDENLY she's in love with him after he makes her a nice dinner and we're expected to buy into the fact they're meant for one another.
Overall this film does what it says on the tin and Hugh Jackman does enough to enable you to get past Kate's lousy character, so you won't be too disappointed if you like this sort of thing..
Leopold -- a man living in the 1870s -- is puzzled by Stuart's tiny camera, follows him back through the gap, and they both ended up in the present day.This could be dismissed as a romantic comedy, which in many ways it is.
But it also has that science fiction, time travel element that will make it appeal to people (like myself) who may not be particularly interested in romantic comedies.
This is back to the good old days.It's also one of those movies that you can watch several times and always find something new - and reliably finish up grinning and buoyed each time.(I can't comprehend why anyone would care about Meg's haircut or the imperfections in the background time travel plot.
I love Meg Ryan's character, Kate McKay, she's funny, sweet and independent.
I love Hugh Jackman's character Leopold.
Reality needs no specific address here.But the beautiful thing, the thing that makes this a compelling little movie is its conclusion, the thing you want, where the boy and girl end up happily married ever after, and we don't even know what ever after was, although we are tempted by a plot item that names Leopold as the inventor of the Otis elevator (named after his butler)  I have no idea if any of this has any basis in reality but I was charmed nonetheless.Furthermore, there have been comments, I am sure repeated by the general critical establishment that Meg Ryan has passed her prime, but as what, a pretty face?
Please do not misunderstand me, I did not hate this film while watching it...I only grew to hate it afterwards.There are some very good elements to Kate & Leopold...well, at least the elements that contained Hugh Jackman.
I know I'm not going into plot details here, but this is one of the better romantic comedies that I've seen and it also had a "Somewhere in Time" feel to it for fans of that movie.
"Kate & Leopold" is a movie with it all - comedy, drama, regrets, joy - of course, with the so-beautiful Meg Ryan to light up that screen, the story is vibrant and heartfelt.
Hugh Jackman gets better everytime and Breckin Meyer does fabulously in his minor role as Meg Ryan's wannabe actor brother.
Throughout the whole movie, Jackman's portrayal of Leopold was charming, romantic, and politely witty.
Meg Ryan plays Kate to a "t" and Hugh Jackman is the hunk from the past that has us sighing with pleasure.
I don't know what it was, maybe chemistry, acting, but throughout this movie, I didn't feel that the Meg Ryan character and the Hugh Jackman character worked together well.
Compared to Meg Ryan's other movie "City of Angels," "Kate & Leopold" does not stand up.
Generally, I like Meg Ryan and I think Hugh Jackman is adorable, but "Kate and Leopold" didn't give either one of them much to do.
We only know she has any importance of any kind because she happens to be played by Meg Ryan, who is, on the strength of films other than this one, a star.Meanwhile, back at the assylum, Stuart meets a gorgeous young woman who (in marked contrast to Kate) actually believes in him.
Continuing my plan to watch every Hugh Jackman movie in order, I come to Kate & Leopold (2001)Plot In A Paragraph: An English Duke (Hugh Jackman) from 1876 is inadvertedly dragged to modern day New York where he falls for a plucky advertising executive(Meg Ryan)Preposterous in its concept, then again aren't all time travel movies, let alone time travel romantic comedies??
Thankfully the movie focuses on the fish out of water concept, instead of the time travel.Not many people can do this type of role better than Meg Ryan.
Teaming up with Copland director James Mangold for the first time, Jackman continues his attempts to try and play as many roles that are diffrent from Logan/Wolverine as possible plays The Third Duke of Albany who is suddenly transported to modern day New York.Overly long, it drags in places, and could have used some trimming, but like Animal Attraction, it gets by on the performances of its leads and it was ok watch, on a lazy Sunday afternoon.Kate & Leopold grossed $47 million at the domestic box office, to be 53rdhighest grossing movie of 2001..
A frilly delightful movie very similar to "Time and Again." But Meg Ryan had the worst hair style I have ever seen.
Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman present a predictable but romantic couple out of time with a delicious dose of elegant tradition contrasted against the rapid fast paced and perhaps ungentlemanly present.
Similar to the classic fun loving movie Time After Time (1979) along with elements that would be borrowed in Enchanted (2007), Kate and Leopold is a mindless, date movie that offers up just enough of a dumb, predictable comedy but in a fun and charming way that the American or at least our fantasy version of it is fulfilled in this fairy tale sci fi movie..
This is a charming movie starring Hugh Jackman- yet to hit his stride in the big leagues, and Meg Ryan- on a downturn.
This is a charming movie starring Hugh Jackman- yet to hit his stride in the big leagues, and Meg Ryan- on a downturn.
This is a charming movie starring Hugh Jackman- yet to hit his stride in the big leagues, and Meg Ryan- on a downturn.
This is a charming movie starring Hugh Jackman- yet to hit his stride in the big leagues, and Meg Ryan- on a downturn.
This is a charming movie starring Hugh Jackman- yet to hit his stride in the big leagues, and Meg Ryan- on a downturn.
Meg Ryan is great in this kind of movies, and that saves the film from being tasteless.
Beautifully acted with grace and sincerity by Hugh Jackman, this film brings the charm of historical romances and intertwines it into today's modern love stories.Yes, you must suspend disbelief in this movie, as with any other work of fiction.
But I just have to say, it's really fun watching Hugh Jackman throughout this silly romantic comedy which I quite enjoyed.There seems to be something wrong with Meg's makeup - it's kind of gray and isn't applied to accent Meg's good features.
I love a lot of Meg Ryan's movies, but I've never been particularly fond of Hugh Jackman.
In Leopold, Jackman creates what I and several of my friends have deemed the most romantic man alive, and in Kate, Ryan manages to craft an intriguing, intelligent woman.
Meg Ryan at her usual best, Hugh Jackman in fine form and a brilliant supporting cast - especially Liev Schreiber (Stuart) and Breckin Meyer who plays her brother.
Even while the rational part of me was pointing out plot inconsistencies and logic errors in the whole time-travel premise, the die-hard romantic part kept telling it, "Shut up, I'm watching this." It helps a lot that Hugh Jackman plays Leopold, the 19th-century aristocrat who gets dragged into our time and falls for modern gal Kate (Meg Ryan).
Hugh Jackman and Meg Ryan make a believable pair even in the light of a fanciful tale of a man out of time finding his soulmate in 21st Century New York.
I'm not the kind of guy who'd normally sit through a Meg Ryan film willingly but I wanted to see Hugh Jackman outside of the Wolverine role I got to know him as.