CHASING LIBERTY

US, 2004, 105 minutes, Colour.
Mandy Moore, Jeremy Piven, Anabella Sciorra, Matthew Goode, Mark Harmon, Caroline Goodall.
Directed by Andy Cadiff.

In the US Mandy Moore is a popular singer. She has been branching out into acting in recent years and has been presenting a wholesome image in such films as the clean-cut A Walk to Remember. Her agent must have suggested that she try to be a little more bold. So, here is Chasing Liberty.

The screenwriters seem to have had more than half an eye on Chelsea Clinton's history, especially her studying in Oxford and experiencing her own freedom. Here, the president's daughter (Moore) spends most of the film avoiding the secret service (in the form of Annabella Sciorra and Jeremy Piven) and getting a taste of liberty. Fortunately for us, she does not get confined to the White House and Washington (where he poor beau is overwhelmed by autograph and photo opportunity hunters and squads of secret service agents). The President (Mark Harmon of all people) has to go to Prague, so we have postcards (visualised on the screen) of Prague, then of Venice, of Austria, of London, all very attractive. And there is that old chestnut of a plot: the man who rescues her (Matthew Goode, British, of course) who is, in fact, an agent who has to keep her out of trouble (he fails, singularly) and who disillusions her when she finds out the truth.

Plenty of froth and bubble and secret service agents.

1. A star vehicle for singer Mandy Moore? Her screen persona?

2. The settings: Washington and the White House and the restaurants, Prague and the scenic aspects, Venice and the lagoons and hotels, the road in Austria, Vienna, London? The literal putting of postcards on the screen? The musical score?

3. The plausibility of the plot, the career of Chelsea Clinton at Oxford? The president's daughter, feeling confined, the Secret Service, chasing liberty?

4. Anna and her personality, her age, experience, being in the White House, used to the public eye, her father having been governor? Her relationship with her strict father, with her mother? Her going out, the entourage, the young man taking her out, security at the White House gate, at the restaurant, the photo seekers, the boy being edged out? Incidents? The Secret Service and their swarming? Anna's exasperation, wanting to be free?

5. The president, his strictness, his foreign policy? Policy towards his daughter? Relationship with his wife? Trying to find out how to handle a teenager? His public office, public appearances, Prague? In contact with the Secret Service? Getting Ben to look after Anna? Phoning in? Continued surveillance?

6. Anna, her ways of getting out of her father's clutches? Going on the town, meeting people, her behaviour, her wanting to feel free? Her getting into scraps? The Secret Service always appearing? Ben, his being able to save her? Her attraction towards him? The revelation that he was also part of the Secret Service? His getting the mission to accompany Anna, report in, keep her out of trouble? Their travelling, the trains, going in the wrong directions, in Venice, as husband and wife, on the gondola, the free ride, newlyweds? Going to the house, the old lady and her kindness? Their clash, her wondering about the marriage? The continued journeys, in Austria, the festival? The people on the road, Anna and her discovery of the truth, trying to give Ben the slip? Her having to go back to the United States? The experience of freedom? Her going to England, meeting Ben - a cheery future?

7. Alan and Cynthia, on Secret Service duty, their clashes with each other, their falling in love, ever present with Anna, the romance?

8. Ben, his British background, work in the Secret Service, charming to Anna, riding the bike, saving her from difficulties, the truth, his always being with her, finding ways to call in to the president? His being dismissed? Back in England?

9. The people in Prague, with Anna, the family in Venice? The farmers on the road? Her chance to meet ordinary people - and ordinary people being nice for Anna?

10. Piece of romantic fluff - but grounded in the realities of the children of celebrities and the need for security and protection?