Monique (2002) - film review

To all appearances, Alex and Claire are a perfectly normal middle-aged, middle class couple.  But when Alex falls into a mood of depression, Claire leaves him to start an affair with another man.  Shortly afterwards, Alex takes delivery of a mysterious parcel.  To his amazement, it contains a full-size, life-like doll – an effigy of the most desirable woman, designed to please any man.  For Alex, it is a dream come true – Providence has given him the perfect bed fellow.  Monique – Alex’s name for the doll – quickly becomes far more than an object of desire.  It transforms Alex’s life, allowing him to enjoy once again the thrill of romantic love in all its myriad shades.   But what will his friends make of his new girlfriend?  And how will Claire react when she learns she has been replaced by an inanimate, but very desirable, lump of plastic...?

In her first film, Valérie Guignabodet offers an ironic – and most unusual – take on the romantic comedy, with the part of the femme fatale in a very peculiar love triangle taken by a full size sex doll.  It’s such a great idea that you wonder it hasn’t already been tried before – the mind can only boggle at the comic opportunities the scenario offers.   Guignabodet’s witty script gets in all the obvious jokes – some of which are so cardiac arrestingly funny they should come with a government health warning.  The characters are well drawn – with some great performances from Albert Dupontel and Marianne Denicourt  – but the film does have something of an identity crisis, not knowing whether it is just a lowbrow farce or something more serious.   Monique probably won’t appeal to all tastes, but for those who are open-minded about full-on human-plastic relationships, it is hilarious madcap fun, and all in the best possible taste (well, almost).

© James Travers 2007

While at times the film tends towards the serious business of the male in crisis, it never strays from its essentially comedic intent.  Farce always, pathos occasionally, it is a wonderful piece of work, from the totally-mixed-up hero through to the wheel-chair-bound friend, wishing to run the length of the Parc de Prince football stadium whilst embracing a girl with 35E bust.  I highly recommend this film and rate it as a 5-Star Movie.

© Tony 2008 (Perth, Australia)

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