Casanova

Don't expect great things to happen in this movie or for the plot to makes sense. But if you want to sit back and enjoy a silly 18th-century romp through gorgeous Venice, then Cassanova will hit the right spot. Heath Ledger is a likable hero in a puppyish, golden retriever sort of way, and Sienna Miller is lovely, though forgettable. The real stars are Oliver Platt and Jeremy Irons. Without their witty contributions, this movie would fade from memory quicker than a Chinese meal. Their acting is worth the cost of your two hours of viewing. This movie, in fact, reminds me of the swashbuckling, romantic adventure flix so popular in the 30's, 40's, and 50's, when studios churned out a movie a week for viewer consumption. Think Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland, and you'll have a pretty good idea about the caliber of this film: Entertaining, but not good enough to make the A list.

''Oh Mummy, it is such a rainy day today can my friends and I play with the dressing-up box and do Casanova in Venice? Darling Heath can be Casanova and uncle Jeremy has agreed to play the nasty part. Oh do say yes Mummy it will be such fun and we can have a serious message in it too all about women's rights and it can be funny and rather droll with lots of lovely dresses and Aunty Jemimah promised to do our hair, oh do say yes Mummy it will be so nice in Venice and we can have a carnival too, what fun?'' '' We cam play classical music in the background while we all romp around being terribly silly and kissing and we can have some terribly nice soft * scenes in it with lots of candles and also we can have a ball and be satirical about religion and torture, oh DO say yes, darling Mummy do''