Kate, Meg Ryan is a flustered overworked, cynical New York marketing person living in the apartment under her former boyfriend Stuart, Liev Schreiber. Stuart, secretly, has found the key to time travel through portals, where he ends up in 1876 New York where the Duke of Albany, Hugh Jackman is being coerced into marrying for money. It`s enough to say that the Duke ends up time-travelling with Stuart back into contemporary New York where Kate is at first feisty and disbelieving. However her younger brother Charlie, Breckin Meyer befriends the duke, and when Stuart accidentally disappears down a lift shaft the Duke has to cope with a cranky Kate who gradually becomes disarmed by his courtliness, a completely new world, and the advertising business.
This is classic romantic comedy with a few twists, but don`t go too far into the logic of this film or it will defeat you. However, without being wildly parochial, Hugh Jackman despite being given a completely unbelievable role carries it off with style and conviction. He`s helped by co-writers` James Mangold and Steve Rogers dialogue. Mangold directs this piece of whimsy after a career which includes more substantial fare like Heavy, Copland and Girl Interrupted with a nice touch except for his control over his leading lady. Meg Ryan is really losing her winsome appeal, she`s almost shrewish as Kate. However there`s solid support from Schreiber and Meyer. It`s as usual way too long, but manages to entertain for two of its thirds.
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