While on a diplomatic trip to Europe with her parents, first daughter Anna (Mandy Moore) escapes the secret service and meets mysterious stranger Ben Calder, who also happens to be an undercover agent.
Even when she's playing a girl with a head full of air in a plot full of holes, Mandy Moore manages to make Chasing Liberty wholesomely appealing. It's too bad that "wholesome," in this case, means frolicking around Prague, Venice, and Berlin as the U.S. President's daughter, eluding Secret Service agents, defying her second-term President father (Mark Harmon, totally miscast), and trusting complete strangers in a world where potential terrorism seems like nothing more than a pesky distraction. In other words, first daughter Anna Foster (Moore) is a complete idiot, oblivious to danger in a fluffy romantic fantasy that's part Roman Holiday (the good part) and part bubble-gum star vehicle. Don't blame Mandy for daring to shed her good-girl image; even her innocent skinnydipping scene was handled by a "butt double," and she's irresistible as she falls for the mutually smitten Secret Service agent (promising newcomer Matthew Goode) assigned to keep her out of harm's way. Another budding romance involving two bickering agents (Annabella Sciorra, Jeremy Piven) is perfunctory at best, but if you're looking for a picturesque, sweet-natured tour of Europe with a pair of likeable lovebirds, Chasing Liberty makes for a pleasantly brief vacation. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
loved it!:
I adore this movie. It's fun & romantic. This movie brings a smile to my face every time I watch it. Matthew Goode is a great actor, yet to get the credit & roles he deserves. Mandy More is great!
*Okay Movie*:
A nice little movie for fans of Mandy Moore.I really like romantic comedies and this was one.Okay movie.
disappointing:
I agree with many previous posters that the portrayal of inept Secret Service agents is kind of scary. However, that's not why I didn't like the movie. I was disturbed that a supposedly intelligent and politically savvy daughter of the President would so little value herself as to throw herself at anyone willing to take her virginity. Of course, Ben resisted her the first time, but gave in when it seemed the alternative was to witness her hooking up with GusGus. Where was her pride and where was his sense... more info
Am I Too Old?:
I think this film was made for the teeny-bopper set and my own daughter (who was a teeny-bopper) dissed it because her set was very critical of Mandy Moore's move from singing to acting. Still, this movie was for ME. A romantic comedy with a cute male lead!
