Release Date: January 9, 2004

(out of 4)

Mandy Moore (“A Walk to Remember,” “How to Deal”) is at it again, playing a beautiful young teenager in love with a dreamy guy. The movie this time is called “Chasing Liberty” (much catchier than say “Chasing Chelsea,” wouldn’t you say?) The opening shot shows Moore trying on about six outfits for her date. The following shot backs up and reveals that her room occupies one of the wings of the White House. Low and behold, she’s the daughter of the President of the United States.

The concept of the film deals with how difficult the dating scene must be for the teenage daughter of the President. Obviously, the screenwriters got the idea for the movie from thinking about Chelsea Clinton. (Did you pick that up already?) What kind of difficulties did Chelsea face when her father was running the country? Being the daughter of a president is no fun. Dodging her bodyguards and running away for a couple nights incognito is a temporary solution for any president’s daughter to let loose and party.

You might have a few problems that will give you some reservations about seeing it. An early dinner scene shows Moore’s date getting approached by some dubious guys, so the secret service tackles them because they’re looking a little suspicious. Come on, they’re obviously harmless teenage boys. Was it necessary for the secret service to do a complete shakedown on these guys? But maybe you’re thinking, hey, it’s funny! Why get critical? Well, they couldn’t have taken the scene somewhere funnier. First off, wouldn’t the guards have checked these guys at the door before they came in? This would have let the filmmakers have an opportunity to do something satiric about security frisking.

That night, Moore marches into the Oval Office and berates her father in front of international diplomats because she doesn’t want agents following her around all the time. Doesn’t the president have a guard at the door at all times during meetings with V.I.P.’s in case to prevent others from waltzing in and embarrassing themselves? The president is played by Mark Harmon, but there has never been a less convincing president in the history of the movies. Harmon comes off more like the president of a P.T.A. organization than he does a president running the country.

In fact, once upon a time in 1995, there was a romantic comedy called “The American President” (with Michael Douglas and Annette Bening) and written by Aaron Sorkin (“The West Wing”). That movie juggled a completely credible and enjoyable romantic story with smart politics and sophisticated jokes. “Chasing Liberty” reminds me of another movie about a president played by Harrison Ford in that 1997 action film “Air Force One,” where he defeats terrorist hijackers with his brawn but not with his brains. Liberty is more like “Air Force One” – both films use the high concept of presidents in power but neither film addresses anything insightful or perceptive about being the privileges and hassles that come along with being the top dog of a country.

“Liberty” is the sitcom version of a president’s life. The family travels to Europe on presidential business and while out one night at a club with the French ambassador’s daughter, Moore decides to ditch her bodyguards. She falls into the arms of a handsome stranger (Matthew Goode) and they have a spontaneous night out, followed by a three-day getaway. There’s no reason for Goode to stick around but the catch is that he’s a secret service agent and Moore doesn’t know it. Goode is supposed to be an escort incognito, on the president’s orders, so Moore can have a good time but not get into that much trouble. Despite being the president’s daughter, she manages, almost inconsiderately, getting herself into a heap of irresponsible trouble as often as possible.

The chemistry between Moore and Goode can be kind of sweet, if not bland. But how intense should their chemistry be? He’s just a guardian, a much older guy, and shouldn’t get involved with someone that he’s secretly hired to protect. Of course, he has inner emotions that interfere with his job. But let’s not forget what the movie’s modest intentions are trying to pull off: It’s a girl’s fantasy about free-spiritedness and personal journey. Since that’s the most truthful estimation of its intentions, then it would be reluctantly honest to report that the second half mostly waddles along from one humdrum adventure to the next.

Moore and Goode do carry themselves off as newlyweds in one escapade, but the lies just end up getting them mad at each other. They make up American-style by agreeing to bungee-jump together. Before she returns home, Moore wants to see the Love Parade in Berlin but tragically is recognized by dozens of tourists as being the president’s daughter. The truly tragic thing is how severe the harassment is towards her because it makes the film come off sort of cynical.

Okay, so some of “Chasing Liberty” is cute. It’s not a particularly bright movie, it doesn’t offer any profound insight, and it’s completely oblivious to politics. But who cares? Perhaps you’re a discerning moviegoer and you want to know all the pros and cons before buying tickets for a movie. You are reading this review for a critical opinion, aren’t you?