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'Chasing Liberty': Giving the Bush twins a run for their money

By Ted Fry
Special to The Seattle Times

	WARNER BROS. PICTURES Mandy Moore stars as the president's daughter and Matthew Goode as the undercover Secret Service agent assigned to protect her in "Chasing Liberty."
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That said, "Chasing Liberty" is still primarily a fluffy romance vehicle that does manage a few charms. Teen pop sensation Moore has a way to go before her acting chops and screen presence rely on much more than a bland sex appeal. But she's helped greatly by newcomer Matthew Goode, a wry British pretty-boy who's just right as a Hugh Grant/Colin Firth heartthrob for the teen-beat set.

The political situation is as follows:

Mandy Moore plays Anna Foster, first daughter to the U.S. president (Mark Harmon), who runs a fantasy White House that's somewhere to the left of "The West Wing."

Movie review Showtimes and trailer ** "Chasing Liberty," with Mandy Moore, Matthew Goode, Mark Harmon, Jeremy Piven, Annabella Sciorra. Directed by Andy Cadiff, from a script by Derek Guiley and David Schneiderman. 111 minutes. Rated PG-13 for sexual content and brief nudity. Several theaters.

Six years into his term, he's off to Prague with wife and daughter for some European partying at a summit on humanitarian aid (insert raised eyebrows here).

Being a typical American teenage girl, Anna just wants to have fun, but her style is consistently cramped by the Secret Service details that stick to her like glue. She makes a deal with dad for what she thinks is a special night out alone in Prague. But it seems President Foster has only one idea of homeland security: Protect his daughter with a ton of Secret Servants.

When she figures out that dad broke his promise, Anna manages to ditch the army of agents and escapes into the Prague nightlife with the help of a hunky British tourist — or so she thinks. Turns out the tall, dark and witty Ben (Goode) is really an undercover agent who gets a covert directive from President Foster to protect his daughter as she gallivants across Europe sowing a few wild oats.

Anna and Ben make their way from Prague to Venice to Berlin in a series of picture-postcard escapades, encountering nary a hint of what Europe and the world is really like post-9-11. Never mind, they have youth and love to guide them. Cute as a button and just as impetuous, Anna wantonly declares, "I don't want to think, I want to live."

Sensible Ben keeps up the ruse as long as he can, keeping Anna out of trouble and occasionally reporting back to dad. When she discovers his true identity, she feels betrayed, of course. But you don't think politics will get in the way of true love, do you?

The romantic banter between Moore and Goode is better than it needs to be. Goode cuts an especially dashing figure that's both sophisticated and carefree. He's clearly a young actor destined for an interesting career.

A few minor characters and subplots add to the pleasant, if geopolitically unbelievable tone. Jeremy Piven and Annabella Sciorra play a pair of mismatched Secret Service agents who strike up their own romance as they chase after Anna and Ben. A roguish raver played by another young Brit named Martin Hancock also adds some smart comic relief.

By the way, Moore fans tantalized by the "brief nudity" descriptor in the MPAA rating may be disappointed, even though she does go skinny-dipping in the Danube.

Ted Fry: tedfry@earthlink.net

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company