Triumph of Love

REVIEW
A fairy tale that is as good-natured as it is implausible, director/co-writer Peploe’s The Triumph of Love, based on Pierre Marivaux's 18th-century play, concerns the fate of a royal throne and the lengths to which a conscientious usurper (Sorvino) will go to set things right. As in almost all fairy tales, there is some scheming done with the best of intentions -– specifically, the princess must temporarily blur some gender lines in order to infiltrate the legitimate heir’s inner sanctum. This gives way to a series of impersonations and comic antics that meander rather than crackle. But rather than poking holes in the plot, or snickering about its hackneyed conceit, it's likely the earnest performances (Kingsley stands out as a reclusive scholar) and the amply handsome scenery will distract just long enough to overlook its shortcomings.