If teenaged girls, the target demographic for pop star-turned-actress Mandy Moore’s latest film, cared much for the way things actually work in the real world, under the bright yellow sun, “Chasing Liberty” would be doomed. Chances are, however, that particular audience won’t be put off by the film’s arrant disregard for verisimilitude, and will delight in this bromidic, yet undeniably pleasant fairy tale about an 18-year-old girl coming of age under highly unusual circumstances.
Anna Foster (Moore) is the president’s (Mark Harmon) only child, and as such lives under the constant surveillance of a Secret Service unit headed by Agents Weiss (Jeremy Piven) and Morales (Annabella Sciorra). All she wants is to experience a little “Anna time” unescorted by the ever-present security detail, which has screwed up more than a few of her dates. While on a diplomatic trip to Prague with her folks, Anna manages to escape an army of bodyguards with the help of hunky Brit Ben Calder (Matthew Goode), and embarks on a journey of sanitary self-discovery that takes her across the European continent. Ahh, but there’s more to Ben than meets Anna’s infatuated eye — turns out, he’s Secret Service, too, and that the president has directed him to play along, thus creating for Anna an illusion of independence. En route to a giant rave in Berlin, the cutesy couple encounter a familiar assortment of off-center characters that includes a zany pickpocket, a friendly gondolier and a crew of German bungee-jumpers.
Directed by TV sitcom veteran Andy Cadiff, “Chasing Liberty” (the title refers to Anna’s Secret Service codename) is as predictable as the weather in Arizona, steadfastly refusing to veer off the safe course for risk of alienating its youthful audience, which presumably wants nothing more than Anna and Ben to fall in love without ever really putting themselves at any risk. Moore has yet to take on a role that demands much beyond her natural magnetism, and Anna is no exception. (The opening sequence is a montage of Anna trying on a variety of outfits before a big date, because that’s what girls do, right?) Moore is clearly the most talented actor of the recent crop of female crooners who’ve graced the big screen, and it’s unfortunate that she isn’t given the opportunity to explore her range here. She’s engaging, nonetheless, and as early January releases go, Hollywood has done a lot worse than “Chasing Liberty.” (Rated PG-13 for sexual content and brief nudity. Running time: 111 minutes)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 9, 2004. Read the original PDF.