Something should be said about a romantic comedy that stars an actress who failed miserably at romance and a cast of actors who are not remotely comedians.

Yet while I was not motivated romantically after watching Casanova, I was genuinely laughing.

Casanova, now in limited release, stars Heath Ledger, fresh off his role in Brokeback Mountain, as the historic title character, and Sienna Miller as Francesca Bruni, his unsuspecting love interest.

Miller is best known as Jude Law’s wife/ex-wife/girlfriend or something like that.

Casanova tells the story of perhaps the first male whore, or at least the earliest celebrated. In this story, and there were many to choose from, we meet Casanova as he’s being chased through Venice by the Inquisition. The mighty Dodge saves him from being hanged, but makes Casanova promise to marry as soon as possible.

He falls for Francesca, the feminist who loathes such a womanizer, but learns that her heart is promised to another man, Papprizzio, played brilliantly and hilariously by Oliver Platt.

The humour in this film is unique because is it not subtle, yet it’s not in your face and not dominating the dialogue. Somehow, the producers found a way to create humour with no explanation. Some things are just funny for what they are. No explanation needed.

Of course, when Papprizzio is being lathered with pig fat in an effort to become better looking? the humour need not be explained.

So the fact that Ledger and Miller are not comedians, and are not that funny in the movie, does not subtract from the jesting. Platt deserves a lot of credit for his contributions to my laughter.

It would have been hard to tell the story of Casanova without adding in humour, especially with Ledger as Casanova. Good choice not to follow Troy, Gladiator and the countless other historic tales being remade so far this century.

However, it would have been interesting to see a blatant modern depiction of the classic risqu?-for-its-time story. But the choice to portray it with a dose of comedy is just fine.

3.5*/5*






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