By Mermaid (Guest Critic)
If you're looking for a cute romantic movie, singing star Mandy Moore is starring in just such a vehicle. In Chasing Liberty, she plays Anna Foster, the 18 year-old daughter of the President of the United States. Another movie, Spartan starring Val Kilmer, is slated to come out with a similar premise, however Moore's vehicle managed to beat it to the punch.

Mark Harmon plays Anna's dad, "The Prez". He is an overprotective father with a gaggle of Secret Service Agents on his daughter's tail at all times. Anna's hormones are raging out of control, and she plans to act on them. We first encounter Anna via a peek into her bedroom at the White House. As she prepares for a date with a boy from school, she tries on different outfits, pausing while looking into her mirror and pouting, "sure you can kiss me. Oh yes, you can kiss me", etc.

As Anna's date arrives at the gatehouse on the grounds of the White House, he is frisked thoroughly. Not just his car and body, but also the flowers her brought for Anna. As they exit the front gate at the White House, an entourage of secret service men follows.

Anna and her date go to a restaurant where she is approached by a schoolmate who reaches into his pocket to pull out something. He is immediately swooped up by the Secret Service, who later discover that he was reaching for his camera. Anna's date says. "I really like you, but I don't have what it takes to be the First Boyfriend." He doesn't want all the attention. So, once again, Anna goes home escorted by the Secret Service.

Upon her arrival back home, Anna storms in, screams at her father, and demands that when they go to Prague for a summit meeting, the Secret Service not be around all the time. Father and daughter agree that only 2 Secret Service agents will be assigned to her. They will be Weiss (Jeremy Given), and Morales (Annabella Scare). These two are continually battling/flirting with each other, but assure themselves they don't have feelings for each other.

In Prague, Anna fulfills her first-daughter duties, then it's off to a concert with a friend. They spot the Secret Service all over, so her friend helps her disguise herself, and out the door she bolts. Outside the club she bumps into a cute British buy named Ben (Matthew Goode). She begs for a ride on his motorcycle to outrun the Secret Service, and he obliges her. She thinks she's found freedom, but what she doesn't know is that Ben is just another Secret Service Agent sent to watch over her.

When the president learns of his daughter's escape, he contacts Ben and tells him to continue posing as a backpacker, so that Anna can have her taste of freedom. But that he is not to let on that he's an agent.

As the two jaunt their way through Prague, Venice and Berlin, they have various encounters with strange people and events. The sparks of love fly, and before you know it the two lovebirds are either kissing and cooing, or bickering, and battling, depending on the moment.

While Chasing Liberty is predictable, young audiences will find great appeal in the performers. The love /hate relationship between Moore and Goode is what gives the movie the spark it needs. The scenes throughout Europe are gorgeous.

Chasing Liberty, actually the code name for the first-daughter, is a delightful, cute, and funny film. It is sure to warm your heart.

Mermaid