Summary
What if the Montagues and Capulets had lived in The O.C.? Or that lissome young cast could be beamed back to fair Verona? The result might look a wee bit like Virgin Territory a period Italian adventure-romance, starring two very contemporarily gorgeous young stars, Mischa Barton and Hayden Christensen. The film is a pastiche of adventure, romance, action, comedy, period drama, and mistaken identity, set in medieval Italy against the backdrop of the black plague(!). Spirits are mostly high, however, as young Lorenzo (Christensen), Pampinea (Barton) and their cohorts frolic in the countryside, away from the nasty disease, amid mistaken identities, family honor, and as much wild flirtation as 14th century Italy would tolerate. Which, it turns out, is quite a bit. Barton and Christensen look a bit out of place in their heavy period costumes, but they are lovely enough--and have enough chemistry--to make their longing love story feel true. Lorenzo has been bewitched by a kiss he received blindfolded, and has pledge his heart to that lady. "I have a love," he tells Pampinea--and holds her, pining, at arm's length. Tim Roth has a grand time in a supporting role, twirling an invisible mustache and wreaking havoc in town and countryside alike. Most of his lines are too raunchy to be quoted here, but it's enough to know his fiendish comic delivery is impeccable. Fans of films like The Princess Bride--and of course, The O.C.--will love getting lost in the lush beauty of Virgin Territory. --A.T. Hurley
Stills from Virgin Territory (click for larger image)