Robert J. Maxwell Take "39 Steps" and add variations on the theme. Here you get two MacGuffins for the price of one. Louis Jordan and his handful of goons are after a youth formula concealed in the label on a bottle of Napoleon's Lafitte 1811 in the secret wine cellar of a castle on the Isle of Skye. The bottle itself, the size of a rather large fire extinguisher, is worth millions of dollars all by itself. A sweet old Scottish lady learns of the bottle and dispatches her son to steal it. "Ken I kill 'em?", he asks. The old lady shakes her head in loving resignation, "Ach, what's a mother to dew? Only if you have tew." The mother and son plot is soon dispensed with and Jourdan becomes the chief villain. The pursuit takes them to the French Riviera for reasons I didn't understand.Penelope Ann Miller is the wine expert who discovers the ancient bottle. She soon picks up a young man as a companion, Tim Daly, who flies helicopters, falls in love with Miller, and owns a billion dollar corporation. Does she reciprocate? Does he get to show off his rock-hard abs? Do the loving pair defeat Jourdan? Does he wind up buying Napoleon's wine? Do they taste the wine at the couple's wedding? Has the wine turned to vinegar? Are you kidding? The screenplay is by William Goldman, a pro who has produced some interesting things among a cloud of clunkers. It was directed by Peter Yates, which is hard to believe because this playful romantic story of wine snobs and thieves is so different from his distinctive work on films like "Bullitt", "Marathon Man," and "Robbery." Even Yates' failure, like "Murphy's War," are exceptional. This story isn't. It's rather like a cartoon.Penelope Ann Miller is a strange actress. There nothing strange about her appearance. She's pretty in a way that some women in the local supermarket are pretty. She's by no means stunning, as, say, somebody with more exotic looks is, like Madeleine Stowe. And she's not extraordinarily sexy, like Elizabeth Hurley or Angelina Jolie. She looks like one of the more attractive girls in a high school chemistry class, the sort that some of the young men with too many pimples dream about before they go to sleep. Her profile is perfect and belongs on an old Medici coin. She's not an outstanding actress, although still competent and affecting.Compared to Tim Daly, she is Eleanora Duse. Daly is brusquely handsome, I guess, in a Magnum PI kind of way, and he's constantly compelled to run around in a bath towel so we see his abs and sinewy limbs and those brachial veins like logs. His performance belongs in a television movie. I didn't like him. I'm staggeringly handsome myself but I'm reminded of a New Yorker cartoon. Two hippos are in the river staring at a gazelle drinking from the bank. One hippo says to the other, "I hate her." Why should Miller wind up in Daly's arms instead of mine? He can pay five million dollars for a bottle of stupid wine and I can't. There is no other rational explanation.But here is Louis Jourdan. He hardly needs that youth serum. He was 70 when this was shot and he looks just fine. His voice is still that Gallic baritone, though perhaps a little gravelly. He's slim, well-dressed, debonair, as usual, and has a chance to overact unconscionably and seems to be enjoying himself. Good for him.There are some picture-postcard shots of Scotland that are very appealing. Less so, the Riviera. But the overall impact of the film is minor, as if everyone -- writer, director, performers, crew -- were all on vacation, breezing along with the breeze. If you don't expect too much, it can distract you for an hour and a half.

h_tuydes It is a little bit cheesy but very entertaining movie. Sometimes the scenes are too exaggerated but especially with the performance of the male lead, it is very funny and entertaining. This movie made me feel like the actors and the producers enjoyed making it as much as I did when I watched it. There is some sort of easiness and natural flow in the storytelling.I must admit I am a big fan of the lead actor, Tom Daly, from the TV show "Wings". I think he is really funny yet gorgeous. In this movie, he is the goofy and not-so-gentleman American chasing after this elegant European girl. Of course, the situations and contradictions are not very original, they are almost cliché, but he is very good at giving it a personal touch. I don't like writing spoilers but without giving away too much I must say, pay attention to the scene where he is in great pain after confronting the bottle box thieves, or when he is under the window of the girl. Also, the scene where he is trying to stall the bad guy saying "Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, .." numerous times. He definitely gives 110% effort in creating his character. Especially the mustache, funny, ridiculous yet still charming.. :) The lead actress is funny and beautiful, definitely carrying the hidden treasures of a beautiful,naive, stubborn and yet intelligent and diligent girl. Also, it is amazing how different she can look in different scenes, scenery, costumes, etc. But I must say, I am not that much impressed with her acting; a little weak compared to the main guy.The supporting actors are great, too. I liked the lady who runs the local hotel/b&b talking to her son! Don't expect an Oscar-winning moment but truly delightful for a night in your cozy home with someone you love (guys,you will have fun, too, believe me) :)

tne_mitchell I don't know why so many people think this is a bad film. I guess I'm no critic but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Beautiful locations. Attractive stars. And the "underdog" doesn't stay under for long. I'ts not rocket science, but who wants to watch rocket science at the end of a tough day. It's fun, romantic and something you can watch even if the kids are around. I'd give it the full 10 stars!

Clivecat This film was a total bore! The only reasons I watched it were Ian Richardson and Nick Brimble. The so-called "romantic leads" were extremely annoying and unlikeable. The plot line was excruciatingly dull and the lead actors were absolutely dreadful. I kept hoping they would get killed soon. The only reason I even saw this film disaster was that my PBS station went off the air and the closest tv channel was broadcasting this waste of celluloid. I saw Ian Richardson and decided I would tune in. I saw those awful "romantic lead" actors, who I have never heard of previously, and was about to tune out. Then I saw Nick Brimble and thought I'd watch this awful film. He died in the film and I should have turned the tv off! I kept hoping he'd come back to life and kill those two awful lead actors! No such luck! Don't waste your time. Stupid dialogue! Boring premise! Yuck!