Shadows in the Sun

Shadows in the Sun is a pleasant little romantic comedy that’s generally elevated by the uniformly compelling performances and some admittedly gorgeous scenery. Joshua Jackson stars as Jeremy Taylor, an uptight book editor who is sent to Italy to track down a notoriously reclusive author named Weldon Parish (Harvey Keitel). Weldon hasn’t written anything since the death of his beloved wife, much to the consternation of his friends and family (particularly his free-spirited daughter Isabella, played by Claire Forlani). There are few surprises to be had as Shadows in the Sun unfolds, particularly in terms of Jeremy’s arc (ie it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that his fancy suits and slick-backed hair aren’t going to last long in Weldon’s laid-back village), and yet it becomes increasingly difficult to resist the amiable, undeniably breezy vibe at work here. Director Brad Mirman – along with cinematographer Maurizio Calvesi – infuses the movie with a picturesque sensibility that quickly proves to be irresistible, though the film’s pace is occasionally a little too relaxed for its own good. Jackson comes off as perfect leading man material, delivering a performance that’s so effortlessly charismatic one can’t help but wonder why he isn’t getting more work. Keitel is superb in a role that could’ve been overwhelmingly quirky in the wrong hands, and brings a fair amount of depth to the otherwise lightweight proceedings. In the end, Shadows in the Sun seems content to exist as nothing more than an agreeable diversion – which is, admittedly, not necessarily a bad thing every now and then.

*** out of ****