'Casanova' makes the rounds

Casanova"Casanova" is a movie very loosely based on the life of the infamous 18th-century lover, a man who changed partners the way other men changed socks. It seems like director Lasse Hallström meant to film an adventure/romance/comedy, but his "Casanova" is only 1/3 of the fun it ought to be. It shines, but only in the last half hour.

In addition to directing such outstanding dramas as "The Cider House Rules" and "The Shipping News," director Hallström has a sweet, intimate little comedy to his credit -- "Chocolat." But with his "Casanova," he shows he is not ready for prime-time farce

The first two-thirds of the film are filled with unending shots of pratfalls and snuggling pairs' feet. As for the pratfalls, it looks like the actors really did fall and hurt themselves. And, in regard to all those pairs of feet, please, one shot is enough. As to focusing on a hero who, face it, is living an empty and boorish life, how much interest can anyone summon up?

All the fault can't be put on Hallström's shoulders. The first two- thirds of the script by Jeffrey Hatcher and Kimberly Simi give us a fairly unlikable leading man, leaving the immensely attractive and talented Heath Ledger with nothing but his good looks to hang his character on.

When Casanova finally meets the beautiful, compassionate, intelligent, courageous love of his life, Francesca Bruni (played by Sienna Miller, a lovely if less angular version of Katharine Hepburn), it's easy to see why he's attracted to her. But what could she possibly see in him?

The best jokes in the film are in the previews, and the swordfights lack the excitement of former swashbucklers, such as Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone in the 1938 film "The Adventures of Robin Hood."

A PG-13 might have replaced the R rating with only 60 seconds of judicious cutting. It's possible that the film's "R" rating is really due to its crass and pointless treatment of nuns in general and the Roman Catholic Church in particular. In short, the first two-thirds of the movie give us no clue that some real fun is in store.

None of the fault can be put on the players.

Oliver Platt is at his hilarious best, even if it's hard to understand why the script has him suddenly transform from a fat dullard into a wise and faithful lover.

Jeremy Irons is great, of course, as the evil Bishop Pucci, someone so convincingly mean that it's hard to believe everything will turn out fine.

But a happy ending is something that a comedy/romance/adventure audience should never doubt. So, if you are over 18, and willing to pay full price for something less than a fully satisfying film, don't doubt it -- the ending is great.

* MARY BURKIN is an attorney/performer/playwright working in Glendale.

20060118h0einike(LA)Mary Burkin20060118it7vsrnc(LA)Natalie Dormer in "Casanova."