This 'Casanova' is too Disney-ized

One would expect Casanova, a movie about the storied loverboy of 18th-century Venice, to be wicked, ribald fun.

One would be wrong.

Heath Ledger, changing horses (in mid-canal) from Brokeback Mountain's repressed gay cowboy to Casanova's unleashed, frilly-shirted libertine, stars in the title role, winking, wagging, and taking any number of tightly corseted ladies to bed.

But this being a Disney production, albeit one helmed by director Lasse Hallström, the whole affair is well-scrubbed and bland - it's the tamest R-rated release I've ever seen. Casanova takes the sauce out of saucy, the bawd out of bawdy, the erotic out of eroticism.

Shot in Venice, and boasting a parade of (mostly British) thespians dressed in period finery, the widescreen, rich-hued Casanova is not unpleasant to look at. Lantern lights send dappling shadows beneath Venetian footbridges, comely wenches and handsome cads cavort at various balls and fetes, and gondolas and horses come and go, talking of Michelangelo.

But charm this Casanova has not. It's not particularly Ledger's fault. The screenplay (by Jeffrey Hatcher and Kimberly Simi) clunks along with the kind of forced dash and merriment that made the Disney remake of The Three Musketeers such a dud. I cite said film because Oliver Platt, whose specialty is the beefy buffoon, played Porthos in the 1993 Musketeers, and shows up in Casanova as Papprizzio, a well-to-do pig who is engaged to be married to the beauteous Francesca (Sienna Miller). Papprizzio must be Italian for pest, because Platt's presence is nothing but a nuisance.

Jeremy Irons slithers on board with a haughty sneer and papal vestments, playing Bishop Pucci, an Inquisitioner who does not like this Casanova and all his gadding about. He will put a stop to him.

Meanwhile, Francesca, 18th-century Venice's reigning feminist (her swordplay is spectacular!), catches the eye of Casanova, who, inconveniently, is engaged to be wed to the virginal Victoria (Natalie Dormer). Duels, duplicity and boudoir slapstick ensue.

Pass the foie gras.

Contact movie critic Steven Rea at 215-854-5629 or srea@phillynews.com. Read his recent work at http://go.philly.com/stevenrea.

Casanova ** (Out of four stars)

Produced by Mark Gordon, Betsy Beers and Leslie Holleran, directed by Lasse Hallström, written by Jeffrey Hatcher and Kimberly Simi, cinematography by Oliver Stapleton, music by Alexandre Desplat, distributed by Touchstone Pictures.

Running time: 1 hour, 50 mins.

Casanova. . . Heath Ledger

Francesca Bruni. . . Sienna Miller

Bishop Pucci. . . Jeremy Irons

Papprizzio. . . Oliver Platt

Andrea Bruni. . . Lena Olin

Parent's guide: R (sex, nudity, adult themes, profanity)

Playing at: area theaters