Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard Co-Star in "When in Rome"

Like many romantic comedies, "When in Rome" contains several unbelievable aspects, especially the fact that anyone as adorable as Kristen Bell needs magic to make someone fall in love with her, especially Dax Shepard, her co-star in real life.

Bell plays a workaholic museum curator during "When in Rome"

Bell plays Beth, a workaholic curator at New York's Guggenheim Museum. While working on an important exhibit, Beth learns that her baby sister Joan (Alexis Dziena) has fallen in love and will be getting married in Rome. Promising her demanding boss that she will return in two days, Beth flies off to Italy for the wedding.

At the reception, Beth bumps into Nick (Josh Duhamel), a journalist who also is a good friend of the groom. These two young people have great chemistry together, but a misunderstanding sends Beth outside to get drunk by a legendary "Fountain of Love." Angry at Nick, she takes 5 coins from the fountain and sticks them in her purse, openly defying the magic of the fountain.

Beth defies tradition when she's in Rome

Unfortunately, by taking coins thrown by others, Beth causes 5 different men to fall in love with her. As the day of her exhibit draws near, the youngest curator at the Guggenheim finds herself surrounded by weird and totally devoted admirers. Each man also seems able to track her down wherever she goes.

Upon returning from Rome, Nick tries to get in touch with Beth, but she gives him the cold shoulder. When she finally warms up to him, she suspects that one of the coins she has belongs to him, which means that his feelings are nothing more than a magic spell.

Despite Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel's best efforts, "When in Rome" is a bad trip.

A pleasant little romantic comedy, "When in Rome" actually isn't anything too special. Kristen Bell is gorgeous and smart, so it seems impossible that she would have trouble finding a husband, much less a date. Even a small scene with her ex-boyfriend (Lee Pace) does little to explain her trouble with relationships.

Bell may be the star of "When in Rome," but it is her would-be suitors that steal the movie away from her and co-star Josh Duhamel. Jon Heder, the wacky star of "Napoleon Dynamite," plays a David Blaine-like magician who uses sleight-of-hand to impress Beth. Heder gets the biggest laughs when he sets up elaborate illusions to win her love.

Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard engaged over opening weekend for "When in Rome"

Kristen Bell's character may have man troubles, but Bell herself recently won the heart of her long-time boyfriend Dax Shepard, who appears in "When in Rome" as one of the would-be suitors. On February 1, People.com reported that Bell and Shepard became engaged over the holidays, adding some real romance to an otherwise weak romantic comedy.

"When in Rome," rated PG-13 for suggestive content, currently is playing in local theaters.

Resources:

People.com, "Wedding Bells to Ring for Kristen Bell & Dax Shepard," Stephen M. Silverman