2004, USA/UK
Comedy, Romance
In the fine tradition of the Bush twins, Chasing Liberty follows the reckless rebelliousness of a President's budding daughter. If Jenna and Barbara ever led such a lovely jaunt, they would probably never make their usual headline quota.
Hollywood's good girl Mandy Moore finds herself in the role of Presidential-offspring good girl Anna (codename Liberty, get it?). Feeling cloistered by the constant swarm of Secret Service, 18-year-old Anna feels it is time to take flight during a diplomatic visit to Prague, and attempts to find her way to Berlin's Love Parade festival. Helping her to escape the men in dark sunglasses is smoldering but sour Ben, unbeknownst to her also one of the hive. Initially meeting in the bar Marquis de Sade, perhaps Anna was pondering Sade's letter from prison stating, "Either kill me or take me as I am, because I'll be damned if I ever change." Ah, such is the transition from girlhood to womanhood.
Played with bitter intensity by Matthew Goode, Ben is a scandalous 23, making their barely legal affair all that more exciting. Perhaps the age difference is necessary to match her dizzying IQ and molded maturity, but it is a little disheartening to think that the man trained to take a bullet for her will more likely take something else. It is difficult to determine where protection trades places with affection, but in a tale where a girl learns to hit all the bases on her first date, the scale is sliding. Moore's portrayal of the young rebel is very wizened and congenial -- even a nude scene feels more Martha Stewart than "Girls Gone Wild."
As constant as a DUI in the Bush family is the humor of Jeremy Piven, as a lovesick puppy for fellow agent played by Annabella Scioria. Their roles are minimal, which is a shame considering his comedic possibilities. In fact, the entire gag real of the DVD consists of Piven's improvs. Also included is a commentary track by the two leads, a featurette that seems made by the tour board of Europe, an un-cut Roots song performance, additional scenes, and a trailer.