Hallo - ich mag dich

I had hoped that the two great actors could somewhat shine in whichever flawed movie. Hell no, you can have the best casting and still make a terrible movie.

I cannot understand how the seasoned producer did this movie. I guess she was in love with the original book, bought the rights, hired Francis Veber to adapt it for a hefty sum and then couldn't let go. Maybe words on paper had a subtle black irony turn that would never make its way into moving pictures.

It starts very bad with this ugly shot of a depressed Marielle alone in his grim flat, with his voice-over narration that only deepens the abysmally boring scene. Then it is only about passive characters bumping more or less directly into each other. Try as I might I could barely watch this for over an hour. I surmise the last 20 minutes secure some kind of happy ending: the build-up was so exhausting that I definitely don't want any of it.

It seems that the other user confounded this movie with another one. Well, he is American after all, maybe he doesn't know all the french films as I do. Anyway he is right when he says this is a good film. The tale of a lonely man who, one day, takes his phone and dials one number by chance. And the number is a lonely wife's too. After several calls they decide at last to meet. And from this point, this movie becomes riveting at the most. Very smart, I would say terrific as a very unusual plot between the two characters - Jean-Pierre Marielle and Annie Girardot - who also give us very gripping sequences. A very freshening film, cooling story I am not used to. Annie Girardot and Marielle at their very best. A little masterpiece written for the screen by Francis Weber.