Film Review
Mariées mais pas trop will come as something of a surprise for anyone familiar
with Catherine Corsini's previous films - an outrageous comedy thriller which
shows little of the originality or artistic flair of this director's earlier works,
which include the sombre drama
La Répétition (2001)
and barbed rom-com
La Nouvelle Ève (1999).
Although the film has a great sense of fun and energy (which derives mainly from its actors'
participation), the absurd characterisation, and even more absurd plot gives it the feel
of a somewhat excessive and unsophisticated parody of a rather outdated genre.
Fortunately, whilst the cliché-ridden dialogue and plot are at best mediocre, at
worst atrocious (offering little in the way of genuine surprise or credible characterisation),
a high calibre cast prevents the film from being a totally wasted effort.
The unlikely pairing of Jane Birkin (one-time partner to Serge Gainsbourg
and practically a one-woman feminist movement in her own right)
and Émilie Dequenne works surprisingly well, even if
the former is cast against type as a cynical femme fatale (making a huge contrast with
the public perception of the popular singer/actress).
Pierre Richard, a once hugely popular comic actor in France (star of such
comedy classics as
Le Grand blond avec une chaussure noire (1972)
and
La Chèvre (1981)), brings the film to life just when its novelty
value begins to flag at the mid-way point - can it really be
thirty years since Richard and Birkin appeared together in
La Moutarde me monte au nez (1974)? -
whilst the charismatic newcomer Jérémie
Elkaïm (of
Presque rien fame) gives the film a further
badly needed shot of exuberance and charm.
It may not be a film you would ever admit to having enjoyed, but, in spite of its obvious
faults, and providing you are in the right frame of mind,
Mariées mais pas trop
can still be enjoyed for what it is, a delightfully tongue-in-cheek comic romp.
© James Travers 2003
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Film Synopsis
Laurence, aged 20, is ready for love, but she always manages to fall for the wrong guy.
After the death of her mother, she engages a private detective to track down her missing
grandmother, Renée, who shares none of Laurence's romanticism. For
Renée, men are merely the means to an end: the wealth she needs for her luxurious
lifestyle. Her seemingly foolproof system is to seduce a wealthy man, marry him,
dispose of him as quickly as decency and opportunity will allow and then collect on the
life assurance. Having been let down by her latest amorous adventure (with a young
insurance salesman, Thomas), Laurence decides to follow her grandmother's example
and marry for wealth. Whilst she ties the knot with a rich garage owner, Renée
hitches up with an ageing playboy. It is not long before both women grow tired of
their new husbands and wish they were rid of them. Fortunately, fate is there to
offers both of them a helping hand…
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.