Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
When her scientist ex-boyfriend discovers a portal to travel through time -- and brings back a 19th-century nobleman named Leopold to prove it -- a skeptical Kate reluctantly takes responsibility for showing Leopold the 21st century. The more time Kate spends with Leopold, the harder she falls for him. But if he doesn't return to his own time, his absence will forever alter history.
Kate & Leopold is a formulaic romantic fantasy that relies heavily on well-worn fish-out-of-water and time-travel-romance conventions without adding much freshness. The plot is serviceable but riddled with logical gaps and convenience, particularly around the time-travel mechanics. Hugh Jackman brings genuine charm and warmth to Leopold, elevating the material above its script, while Meg Ryan is competent if a bit flat in her latter career period. The cinematography is functional New York romcom fare with no distinctive visual identity. The concept of a Victorian nobleman dropped into modern Manhattan has been done in various forms before, and this execution doesn't distinguish itself memorably. The ending opts for a feel-good resolution that papers over significant narrative problems rather than earning its sentiment properly.