Titles, like almost any other aspect of the film, can be wasted. One of the best examples could be found in Year of the Comet, directed in 1992 by Peter Yates. The title suggests science fiction spectacle that deals with the same subject as Armageddon or, at least, serious drama or comedy dealing with the way apocalyptic prophecies reflect themselves on history or popular culture. Best known year of the Comet was 1910 when the appearance of Halley's Comet convinced many people that something more than Belle Époque was at end. But the scriptwriter William Goldman had referred to entirely different period - for him the year of the comet was 1811, less remembered among historians, yet very interesting period to modern day wine connoisseurs. One of them is Sir Mason Harwood (played by Ian Richardson) who sends his daughter Margaret (played by Penelope Ann Miller) to Scottish castle in order to arrange the sale of bottle containing Lafitte 1811 - the most precious wine from Napoleon's private collection. She is joined by Oliver Plexico (played by Tim Daly), representative of a wealthy American buyer. Two of them soon discover their task to be anything but routine – some mysterious individuals also want the bottle, and, as a result, Plexico's and Harwood's lives are in danger.

British director Peter Yates in his long and prolific career had an opportunity to develop directorial skills and they are quite evident in this action comedy. Yet, even his professionalism isn't enough to compensate the inadequacies of the script, which is, ironically, written by William Goldman, one of the best known and most respected screenwriters and script doctors in Hollywood. The silly plot, which is a cross between Romancing the Stoneand adventure comedies of the Old Hollywood, could have at least been basis for some humour and action, but the characters are undeveloped and the villains are too cartoonish. Penelope Ann Miller does her best to give some charm to her heroine, yet even she can't hide the lack chemistry between her and terribly miscast Tim Daly. The humour is also deep bellow the standards we expect from today's action comedy and despite interesting Scottish and French locations, Year of the Comet has a low budget look, thus completing impression that something more than title was wasted here.

RATING: 4/10 (+)

(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on August 28th 2002)

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Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/44941-year-of-the-comet?language=en-US
Critic: AA