There is nothing fundamentally wrong with “Letters to Juliet,” a light romantic comedy that is sure to please its target audience. I will give it credit for holding my interest more than “The Backup Plan,” “When in Rome” or even “Leap Year.”

But that is faint praise for a film that is painfully predictable and unable to overcome a pedestrian formula that proves to be beneath a capable cast.

Amanda Seyfried stars as Sophie, an aspiring writer who goes on vacation with her fiance (Gael Garcia Bernal) in Italy and discovers a courtyard where scorned women ask the advice of the famed Juliet from William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.”

Sophie discovers a letter that was hidden for 50 years and decides to answer it, inspiring the letter’s author, a British woman named Claire (Vanessa Redgrave), to travel to Italy and search for her long-lost love.

Sophie joins Claire and her grandson (Christopher Egan) on the journey to find Claire’s lost love. Along the way, Sophie starts to question whether her true love is indeed her fiance or perhaps Claire’s grandson.

If you’ve ever seen a romantic comedy, then you can probably map out the entire plot of “Letters to Juliet” in about 30 seconds. The screenplay, co-written by Jose Rivera and Tim Sullivan, is so cookie-cutter it could have had title cards announcing plot points before they happened and not lost any suspense.

It also doesn’t help that Sophie’s big decision is actually difficult, because both options prove to be pretty unlikable. Bernal’s character is so disinterested in everything but his work, it is quite obvious Sophie would look elsewhere. Unfortunately, the grandson is introduced as a stuffy British jerk, a first impression that can’t be erased, despite the film’s best efforts.

To their credit, Seyfried and Redgrave are both quite good. I think Seyfried is much more suited for roles like this – not like the vixen she recently portrayed in the thriller “Chloe.” She brings warmth and life to her performance, which makes Sophie quite engaging.

Redgrave is good but under used, bringing some dignity and class to a film that is a bit below her talent level.

They are both so good, that it made me want to like this film more. Seyfried and Redgrave deserved better and so does anyone looking for a good romantic comedy.

Also in theaters

For moviegoers looking for a little more action, there’s “Iron Man 2” (B), an overstuffed but satisfying follow-up to the 2008 smash hit. It’s a little messy and not nearly up to par with the original, but this is still an acceptable sequel with just enough fun to appease its fan base.

The story picks up with billionaire Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) locked in a battle with the U.S. government over control of his Iron Man technology.

Stark refuses, publicly shaming defense provider Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), who is eager to re-create the technology for his own financial benefit.

Hammer teams up with Russian scientist Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), who also has issues with Stark and his family and is intent on seeking revenge.

Downey, Rourke and Rockwell are just the tip of the iceberg in a loaded cast. Gwyneth Paltrow returns as Pepper Potts, Samuel L. Jackson is back as Nick Fury, Don Cheadle steps in for Terrance Howard as Stark’s good friend James “Rhodey” Rhodes, while Scarlett Johansson joins the cast as Potts’ assistant.

There are so many characters, I almost got whiplash keeping up with all of them. However, director Jon Favreau does a good job of balancing the talent, and Downey proves to be the perfect lead – capable of keeping the spotlight on him and not getting lost in the sea of stars.

It’s a feat I’m not sure many actors could pull off, but Downey does it with ease. It’s a performance that isn’t as flashy as “Tropic Thunder,” but one that Downey excels in just the same. He remains the heartbeat of the franchise and the main reason for its success.

“Iron Man 2” is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence and some language and is now playing at the Great Escape 12, Highland Cinemas in Glasgow, and the Franklin Drive-In.