January 6, 2010 (New York City)
January 8, 2010 (United States)
February 26, 2010 (Ireland)
Leap Year is a 2010 romantic comedy film directed by Anand Tucker and written by Harry Elfont and Deborah Kaplan. Leap Year stars Amy Adams and Matthew Goode. The plot revolves around Anna Brady (Adams), who decides to travel to Dublin to propose to her boyfriend on leap day, as Irish tradition allows.
Principal photography took place in County Wicklow, Dublin, County Mayo, and County Galway, including the Aran Islands, Connemara, Temple Bar, Georgian Dublin, Wicklow National Park, and Olaf Street, Waterford.
Leap Year premiered in New York City on January 6, 2010, and was released theatrically on January 8, 2010, by Universal Pictures in the United States and on February 28 by Optimum Releasing in Ireland. The film received mostly negative reviews from critics.
Storyline
Boston real estate stager Anna Brady is frustrated that Jeremy, her boyfriend of four years, has still not proposed, even though they are about to move into an upscale apartment together. She decides to travel to Dublin, where he is attending a cardiology conference.
A storm diverts Anna's plane to Cardiff, Wales. She hires a boat to take her across the Irish Sea to Ireland, but due to the storm, she is put ashore in the small seaside village of Dingle. Anna offers to pay Declan O'Callaghan, who runs the local pub, to give her a ride to Dublin. He initially refuses, but as his pub is threatened with foreclosure, he agrees to drive her for €500. Along the way, she tells him she plans to invoke an Irish tradition, Bachelor's Day, which allows women to propose to men on February 29. Declan mocks the concept.
When cows block the road, Anna exits the car to shoo them away, and steps in a cow pat. She leans on the car while cleaning her shoes, causing it to roll downhill into a stream. They continue on foot, until a van with three travellers stops and offers a lift. Ignoring Declan's warning, Anna hands them her suitcase first. Before she can get into the van, they drive off without her. Anna and Declan continue walking to a roadside pub, where they find the travellers. Declan fights them and retrieves Anna's bag.
While waiting in the pub for a train, they ask each other what they would grab if their homes were on fire and they had only 60 seconds to leave. Absorbed in conversation, they miss the train, and have to stay the night at a bed and breakfast in Tipperary. They pretend to be married so their conservative hosts will let them share the room. During dinner, when the other couples kiss to show their love for each other, Anna and Declan feel obliged to kiss as well. This stirs feelings neither had expected. They sleep in the same bed, but do not admit their new feelings.
The next day, they continue hitchhiking, but a hailstorm forces them to shelter in a church, where a wedding is taking place. They are invited to the reception, where Anna gets drunk. She begins to question her relationship with Jeremy and realizes she has feelings for Declan. As they are about to kiss, she vomits and passes out. They arrive in Dublin the following day. Declan reveals he was once engaged, but his fiancée ran off to Dublin with his best friend and his mother's Claddagh ring. Anna suggests that while in Dublin, he should ask for the ring back. When they arrive at Jeremy's hotel, Jeremy surprises Anna by proposing to her in the lobby. Seeing that Declan has already left, she accepts Jeremy's proposal.
At their engagement party back in Boston, Anna discovers why Jeremy proposed; the co-op board of the apartment building were unlikely to approve their application if they were not married. Dismayed, she pulls the fire alarm and waits, testing the 60-second concept she and Declan discussed. Jeremy grabs all their electronic devices, leaving Anna to look after herself. She realizes there is nothing in the apartment that means anything to her, including Jeremy. Meanwhile, in Dublin, Declan retrieves his mother's Claddagh ring from his ex-fiancée.
Anna returns to the pub in Dingle, where Declan has raised the money to pay his debt with the help of the community. She tells him she has broken off her engagement and proposes that they get together, and not make plans. Declan leaves. Thinking she has been rejected, Anna rushes outside to the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea. Declan emerges, revealing that he went out to retrieve his mother's Claddagh ring. Declan says he wants to make plans with her, and proposes. Some time later, they drive away in Declan's car with a "Just Married" sign and Anna tosses aside the map, leaving their destination open to fate.
Sound Effects Used
- Hollywoodedge, Car Horn Beeps High Do PE077201/Car Horn Honk Close Mi CT052301
- Hollywoodedge, Cow Moos Three TimesC PE022901
- Hollywoodedge, Elevator Bell DingsL PE192801
- Hollywoodedge, Forest Ambience Bird PE010101
- Hollywoodedge, Horn Morris 1000 VanH EE064701
- Hollywoodedge, Horses 1 High Pitched TE016301/Horses Several Whinn PE025201/Horse Whinnies Group AT045501
- Hollywoodedge, Owl Great Horned Hoot AT083001
- Hollywoodedge, Seagulls No Surf BT022101
- Sound Ideas, BIRD, CROW - COMMON CROW: CALLS, ANIMAL
- Sound Ideas, COW - FIELD OF COWS GRAZING, SOME C.U., ANIMAL
- Sound Ideas, ELECTRICITY, SPARK - HIGH VOLTAGE SPARK, ELECTRICAL 02