Devoid of anything original

After one of his many accidents in the film, male lead Josh Duhamel says, “I should have seen that one coming.”

This quote is especially germane as nearly every joke, turn and character here is something that’s been done a thousand times. One can’t blame a love story for being predictable, but there’s nothing that makes this story unique – at all.

Kristen Bell and Duhamel carry the roles well enough and are supported by a cast of squandered talent (Will Arnett most notably) and others who are just there. When the film turns Jon Heder’s character into some weird “Napoleon Dynamite” homage, you know its grasping at straws.

Written by the men who brought us “Old Dogs,” the plot brute-forces the Roman magic to transfer to New York, dredges up obstacles for the young lovers without justification and is lacking in comedy. Instead of allowing couples to delve into this story as a metaphor for their own relationships this Valentine’s Day, many will watch as nothing more than distracted spectators.