Cyrano

Offering a fresh and vibrant twist on a classic love triangle, Cyrano can melt the hearts of hopeless romantics without sacrificing its underlying messages of acceptance and self-esteem.

This handsomely mounted adaptation of the venerable Edmond Rostand play should introduce a new generation to its wit and wisdom while retaining the enduring spirit of the source material.

Although some uneven narrative momentum prevents a deeper poignancy, strong performances and sumptuous visuals elevate this musical version from British director Joe Wright (Atonement) above its labored plot mechanics.

Set in 17th century France, the story follows the title character (Peter Dinklage), who’s both a schemer and a charmer, equally adept at sparring through wordplay and swordsmanship. Beneath the surface, however, he’s self-conscious about his unflattering features and diminutive stature.

“Everybody knows I’m so much more than a freak,” he explains during an introductory spoken-word musical number. “If you wanna hurt me, you’d better get in line.”

He’s bitter over a sense of unrequited love for Roxanne (Haley Bennett), who he’s known since childhood. After they lock eyes from afar before losing one another in the crowd, Cyrano openly wonders whether he’s worthy of her. “My fate is to love her from afar,” he laments.

Then he meets Christian (Kelvin Harrison Jr.), a soldier preparing for war who falls for Roxanne but is too tongue-tied to express his true feelings. Christian asks Cyrano to be his wingman, feeding him verbal sweet-nothings and crafting letters when they’re apart. Cyrano’s wooing words, of course, disguise a hidden meaning for their author.

Highlights include the iconic balcony sequence and a melancholy montage involving lovelorn soldiers on the front lines. But overall, the songs aren’t memorable despite some elaborate staging and choreography.

Commanding the screen despite a lack of vocal dexterity, Dinklage balances Cyrano’s acerbic bravado and internal vulnerability in an endearing portrayal that again showcases his versatility. He leads an ensemble that emphasizes inclusion without feeling forced.

Rookie screenwriter Erica Schmidt — who adapted her script from her musical starring Dinklage, her real-life husband — doesn’t dwell on historical details like spiritual and sociopolitical context, instead conveying a timeless examination of courtship and the laws of attraction.

Romantic gestures like letter-writing might seem antiquated these days, yet the cleverly updated Cyrano, with lavish sets and costumes, manages to take a familiar story to new heights.

Rated PG-13, 124 minutes.