La femme du boucher

What a treat to catch this movie on a HD channel recently; yes, it is "Schlocky-wood", but it's done as a carefully crafted ensemble piece. And what an ensemble! The cast has some great moments, especially for Demi Moore and Jeff Daniels. But there are some "characters in the background" who would become well known for performances yet to come (e.g., Frances McDormand in "Fargo" and Miriam Margoyles as Prof. Sprout in the Harry Potter series). This is an enjoyable, humorous, ironic, feel-good movie... you surely won't have to apologize for crude language or over-the-top violence in any scene (well, you will have to get used to Demi's full length blonde hair, and after "G. I. Jane" that may be tough to do).

Demi Moore (with a blonde do) plays Marina, a clairvoyant who marries a New York butcher believing him to be the man of her dreams. Once she gets to New York she finds out that while her powers seem to be accurate when she advises other people, she may not have made the right choices for herself...

I was forced to watch this movie by my girlfriend and found myself pleasantly surprised. It's no classic, but is a sweet, enjoyable film (though it's fairly easy to spot how things will work out early on).

Over here in the UK the film received a "15" certificate, presumably for the one instance of strong language that actually jars with the rest of the film, and possibly for the lesbian character/s (though they barely touch each other on screen).

I sympathised with most of the characters, especially Mary Steenburgen's would-be singer (she has a surprisingly good voice, by the way). Marina's complete accuracy when it comes to predictions that don't involve her is a little far-fetched, especially when she gets her own life in such a mess.

Worth a look if you like low-key romantic comedies with a slightly magical twist (not a large genre!), or if you liked "Simply Irresistible" (1999) with Sarah Michelle Gellar. Not really one for most guys, though.

few drops of fairy tale. few clichés from classic romantic comedies. Demi Moore in a role with high potential and decent solutions. different family/personal crisis. solutions who remind old truth. nothing new. but a nice story about magic, expectations, true love. useful after a long work day. and for the fans of Demi Moore. boring for the predictability. because the few ornaments not are so attractive for ignore an old story, sweet, pink, lovely but far to be great about dreams and their clash with reality, compromises and the happiness as result of self definition. the different stories are a not bad spice. and the performances are far to be bad. but , after its end, the strong feeling - it deserves be better- is the basic gift from this version of fairy tale.

If you like romantic films and you like Marina, you will probably like this film. Marina, played by Demi Moore, is the titular character around which the entire film revolves.

Marina is from Ocracoke Island. When she meets Leo (George Dzundza), she immediately knows he is her soul mate, because his coming has been foretold. Marina lives in a world of portents where natural events determine destinies. And that is the world of this film.

She marries George and moves to his island, Manhattan, where she works in the butcher shop and hands out clairvoyant advice on the side.

The film is charming because of its premise and its core of benignity. Even when complications arise in the lives of its characters, the viewer knows this is a world in which fate has kind purpose and love will ever win out. However, there is one erroneous prediction that threatens to disrupt the perfect order. Will it result in unhappiness or romantic chaos?

Ms. Moore captures the accent of Ocracoke and, despite her personal distaste for her experience making this film, portrays a likable and convincing character. The rest of the cast is strong. Watch for some enjoyable cameos.

I just love, love, love this film. The cast is perfect, right down to all the bit-parts. At first I was bothered by DM's accent (& her blonde hair is a shame) but the sweet script transcends all that. All the characters are pitch perfect, the lines so funny & the message inspiring! The locations are also great, I don't know where this is in NYC, but I would love to live there! I think Jeff Daniels is simply brilliant in this film, and Mary Steenbergen too. The scene where DM tells her she's a singer is lovely & the sparky scenes between JD & DM are so sweet and funny too!