Jay Wheeler (Scott Speedman) lives up to his name as a wheeler-dealer. A son of wealthy New Orleans stock, he has chosen to run up gambling debts and pursue other nefarious actions. This lands him in jail, where he is sentenced to community service at a mental hospital. While mopping the floors, he saves a pretty patient, Daisy (Evan Rachel Wood) from being assaulted by a male resident of the same ward. Not long after this, his gambling totals are so large that the casinos are after him. His only recourse is to go back home for his brother's wedding, where he will ask his father for a "business loan". But, needing to look the part of a successful gentleman, Jay decides he needs a lady on his arm. All of the pole dancers of his acquaintance turn him down so he gets the brilliant idea to bring DAISY, after she follows him out the door one night. Is he serious? Yes, she's highly functional but may have killed her mother, also a disturbed individual. With instructions to tell everyone she is a nurse, can Daisy and Jay pull this ruse off? Not likely, and soon other escapades follow. Meanwhile, the hospital's head shrink (JK Simmons) is throwing fit after fit. Is there a future for this strange couple? This remake of a German film has a great concept and a winning performance from Wood to elevate its eventual loss of energy. What fun to have a "crazy" woman pose as a gal pal at a high society wedding! Speedman does fine work, too, as do Treat Williams, Simmons, Kate Burton and more. As the scenery goes from California to Louisiana to Texas and back again, fans of varied venues will be happy, too. Yes, the flick slows down and loses focus in the second half but still will resonate with a certain kind of offbeat film lover. So, if that's you, get shoes on and go get Barefoot.

"Barefoot" is a very frustrating film to watch. The acting is very nice, the direction very good as well and the film has a lovely soundtrack. So it has everything you'd want in a rom-com...except for an intelligent and well-written script. Rarely have I seen a film like this---where everything was so good and the script was so darn awful. It's a shame, as the folks in this film deserve more...as does the audience.

Scott Speedman stars as Jay--a very, very, very irresponsible and unlikable guy. Sure, he's handsome but it's hard to care about any leading character in a romantic film who is a thief, loves to spend all his time gambling and hanging out in strip clubs, kidnaps a mental patient and skips out on probation. He's in trouble because he owes bookies a lot of money and they're threatening his life. Because he's not a very nice person, no one will give him money and he's desperate. Ultimately, he comes up with a plan so stupid, unfunny and bizarre that I just couldn't believe the film. You see, he also works as a janitor in a mental hospital. And, when a cute mental patient named Diasy (Evan Rachel Ward) sneaks out of the hospital to follow Jay*, he decides to take her across the country to his brother's wedding. Why? Because he wants to convince his family he's no longer irresponsible and has a good job and a steady girlfriend. Unfortunately, she is bizarre and is much like bringing a feral child into civilization. With very few social skills and little understanding of the real world, his highly illegal and insane plan seems preposterous. It's also apparently supposed to be funny...which it never really is.

After convincing everyone but Jay's mother that Daisy is nuts, Jay's plan falls apart. So what does he do? He steals his father's beautiful classic motor home and goes on a cross-country road trip. Now, the motor home looks like it was made in the 1950s and is turquoise, yet for a long time he's able to elude the police--even during a high-speed chase! Yet, because the film is supposed to be a rom-com, by the end of the film everything just magically works out and they live happily ever after. Now think about it, if ANYONE (even someone not as screwed up as Jay) kidnaps a woman, steals a motor home, jumps probation and causes half the police in Texas to pursue him, you would never, ever expect a happy ending...just a trip to prison (though, I suppose, it COULD lead to romance...but that's another film I suppose).

The bottom line is that the actors were actually very good in their roles. Additionally, the film was very competently directed---as the film looked very nice and set a lovely mood. But with such an awful script, how can you possibly make a decent film?! This is an annoying film. It has many nice elements but is just terrible in spite of this. You and your date could certainly find a movie better than this for your date night. Heck, it would be hard not to! *How did Daisy escape? She just walked out the door and it magically let her go! No alarms, no security detail in pursuit...nothing!

Jay (Scott Speedman) likes to drink, gamble, speed, smoke, and go to strip clubs. Unfortunately, even with an MBA he isn't much good at it. On parole, he lands a gig mopping floors at a mental institution. He also has outstanding gambling debts. His family has money as he goes to New Orleans (from LA) to his brother's wedding. Pressed for a date, he opts to take with him newly escaped mental patient Daisy (Evan Rachel Wood). She is child like and honest. She will say anything to anyone and needs to be protected, the type of girl guys easily fall in love with. She doesn't like shoes.

This is another quirky romantic comedy. We have entered a downward spiral where each romantic comedy has to be odder than the previous one, irregardless how inane the ending or impossible the situation or how awkward they make us feel while trying to make us feel good.

Evan Rachel Ward was delightful in her role, although her scripted character was not convincingly real. Jay is a guy whose character is difficult to connect with, oh poor little rich kid.

The film makes for a good rental for lovers of quirky romantic comedies.

No sex or nudity, although there are some strip joint scenes, they are in bikinis. I don't recall any F-bombs although rated PG-13 for "brief strong language." I may have missed it.