Hors de prix (2006) - film review

Jean is working as a barman in a luxury hotel on the Côte d’Azur when he meets Irène, a young adventuress who lives off the wealthy men she seduces.  Mistaking Jean for a millionaire, Irène spends a romantic evening with him, but then disappears.  A year later, Irène and Jean meet again at the same hotel, but the former soon sees through the latter’s attempt to play the wealthy playboy.  Once Irène has drained all of his financial resources, Jean soon finds himself playing the same exploitation game, becoming the toyboy to a wealthy older woman...

Although somewhat less substantial and original than Pierre Salvadori’s previous films, this sparkling comedy has immense appeal, thanks to the felicitous casting of Gad Elmaleh and Audrey Tautou in what look like made-to-measure roles.  It’s predictable formulaic stuff, offering few surprises and even less character depth, but let this not put you off.  Hors de prix is an entertaining romantic comedy that effectively makes the point, in a charming but somewhat circumlocutory manner, that their is far more to life than wealth.  Audrey Tautou looks as if she has finally cast off her sweet Amélie persona and is surprisingly convincing as the cynical female gigalo. Meanwhile, Gad Elmaleh turns in one of his best performances to date, poignant and believable as the innocent who gets hopelessly out of his depth as he falls under Miss Tautou’s spell.

© filmsdefrance.com 2009

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