by Mr. Jim on 4/17/2002
 
For starters, Sting won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. Rolfe Kent provides an outstanding score for James Mangold's screenplay based on Steve Rogers' original story. With an able cast of Meg Ryan (Kate), Hugh Jackman (Leopold) and Liev Schreiber (Stuart Bessler), the story falls short of all expectations... but never fear, our composer for the score, Rolfe Kent, saves the day for the CD release.

With shades of Henry Mancini, various cues take on a fun, quirky sound with sprinkles of romance, like "Charade" or "Man's Favorite Sport." Much like Mancini, Rolfe lends a flavor of jazz, waltzes and even marches that seems to fit and work. Just give a listen to "You Did So Great (Kate's Theme)" - it's like something out of Mancini's score for The Great Race... don't get me wrong. "Dearest Kate" blends much of Our Man In Hollywood (Mancini) into each fascinating cue, providing melodic counterpoints like those Mancini could whip up in seconds. I like what Rolfe Kent has done for this picture, gives it the texture and fabric that pulls off many scenes, it's about the only thing worthwhile... Kent's soundtrack!

So "film-score-buff" collectors, if it's good listening, you've come to the right place for comedy, light and whimsical music... as shades of Henry Mancini rise to the occasion and lives through Rolfe Kent - gotta love it.