In Priceless, Audrey Tautou says that charm is better than looks. “Looks can be resisted, charm cannot.” Priceless has charm in spades.
I’m not one of those guys who throws around terms like “delightful comedy” (unless I’m being ironic). But that just about sums up this film.
In Amelie, Audrey Tautou showed us she can be uniquely cute better than just about anyone. Here, she shows us sexy. She is practically naked the entire film, by way of dresses with sheer and/or very little fabric, and her glorious refusal to wear a bra. Also, she is sometimes just naked. Bravo!
Also, she can act. Not too far into the film I’m thinking, “I really don’t like her character.” I was concerned for the film, because how am I supposed get into a romantic comedy when I don’t know why the guy is pursuing this girl? But it’s not long before she, too, shows us what charm is. Yes, the screenwriters get credit for this, too, but it still requires the right actress to make us change our minds.
Gad Elmaleh is great as Jean, a bartender who falls for Tautou, a girl way above his pay grade. His father was a mime, and you can see him channeling Chaplin in this film. After watching him in this, I’ve moved The Valet to the top of my Netflix queue.
Now, some caveats. This is a French film. I don’t just mean the dialogue is in French1, I mean the comedy, tone, setting, etc. I’m a big fan of foreign films, especially French; you may not be. At the same time, if you’re expecting Amelie, which is off-the-charts charming and quirky, you’ll be disappointed. But it is quirky, and fun, and… You know. Delightful.
- Except for “pick-me-up” and “sunny-side up”, which have apparently been assimilated into the French language. [↩]
WOW, sounds like this is the film to see soon. I think I’ll pass on Leatherheads, as did most of the American film audience. I’d say this was a perfect “chick flick” to see with my wife, but I think it definitely depends on the “chick” involved. Most women get defensive when too much skin starts getting displayed on screen.
This makes a perfect case for the multi-rating film release that has been seldomly seen. We need an R-rated version of films and then a PG-13 version as well. This allows a wider audience to enjoy the material without worrying about post-film discussion. And it still gives the artist control, preventing the dreaded bowlderization effect.
They are already doing it for the airline versions; why can’t it be available up front ?? If anything, the film industry needs *wider* exposure (sic) to the audience. We can still get the DVD for the full (monty) experience at home. As long as the original vision is available on DVD, the audience should have choices up front (listen up, George Lucas).
As far as this being a chick flick, it depends. I saw with another guy and we both thought it was great. I generally don’t put romantic comedies in the chick flick category, unless they’re not funny. The the leads are gold diggers and it kind of takes a sympathetic view to them. If you put yourself in the shoes of the rich, older man or woman, you’ll have a harder time liking the main characters. It’s the young(er) and poor in love and vs. the older and rich in lust – like I said, it’s French 🙂 I don’t think it’s mean spirited, but the rich characters are not without flaws.
As for rating, like my friend said, this is a “French PG-13”. A little skin is OK, violence is not.
I’m going to have to see this… Loved Tatou in Amelie (honestly, what wasn’t there to like about that movie?), and thought she was one of the few saving graces to “The DaVinci Code,” missed “A Long Engagement.” She’s got a sort of Audrey Hepburn thing about her (as opposed to a Katherine Hepburn thing about her, which would just be disturbing).
This isn’t Amelie, but I do think you’ll enjoy it. She does have an Audrey Hepburn thing going on – now I’m going to have to watch Roman Holiday.
But I disagree on Katherine Hepburn. Way back at the start of her career, she was a looker! I’m actually a fan of her early movies like Bringing Up Baby, The Philadelphia Story (where she played Tracy Lord), and Woman of the Year. And she was in her 30s by then. Here’s Katherine at 26:
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm2607323136/tt0024264
Not too shabby.
(And yes, I know you were referring to shaky, older Katherine, but I try hard not to think about that 🙂 )