siberryfan

While I have never been a fan of Meg Ryan, I find myself attracted to the films that she is in. Sometimes I just want to sit back and watch American romance comedies – they're usually so much fun. So I watched this, knowing I don't usually like her, hoping that maybe she could change my opinion of her. She didn't.

Poor Kevin Kline. This movie could have been really exciting – a reunion with Jamie Lee Curtis would have been perfect – Curtis could have pulled this off with ease. Or how about Jennifer Aniston – a great comedic actress who has the skill for serious drama. But Ryan is just Ryan in this movie: I saw her Kate in 'Kate and Leopold' and other Ryan major roles all surface in this flick… and was turned off as usual.

There is a strange physical jaunt that she expels in many of the romantic comedies that she is in – in exasperation, she thrusts her arm into the air and bends slightly at the waist rocking back and forth, in an 'Aw – sheesh – damn' kind of rhythm which is so trite and so unnecessary – that she throws at us again in this film. More than once. It is tiring, and too recognizable: why should I be reminded of 'Kate and Leopold' or 'When Harry Met Sally' every time I see Ryan?

The story is fun and smart, the supporting cast is great. Everyone shines – especially Kevin Kline, whom I don't consider supporting cast, don't get me wrong. He is perfectly cast as the Franco-American with dreams as of yet beyond his grasp. He is sly and wise as a criminal, and gives us the benefit of the doubt throughout this movie. Jean Reno is perfect as his comrade-cum-official.

This movie could have been so much more than it is. The French countryside is gorgeous, and you might just wish there was more to the leading lady to complement it.

I am genuinely surprised to see such a high user rating for this film. It's at a 7.2 as I write this. It isn't bad, but it's … I'm finding difficulty bringing the right word to mind; I keep landing on, 'eh.' It occurs to me that this movie's script finds this very same difficulty.

The movie kept my interest; each actor took hold of his character very comfortably and naturally (with the purposefully-directed exception of The Kid), and each one again kept me interested. I wanted to continue watching them, listening to them. But mid-way through the movie, I felt my face change. My neck hurt. At that moment, I realized that I hadn't smiled or laughed ONCE up to that point. And by the end of the movie, I think I counted two instances when I laughed out loud, and no other instances of smiling.

There is such amazing acting in this movie, that it completely out-performs the script and screen writing. I hadn't even noticed I was watching a comedy. I mean, sure, the jokes are foul and there is vile behavior, but what's funny about that when every other word is f**k? I am not offended by foul language. If I have anything against 'The F-word' it is that it steals the flavor and meaning from the words it substitutes. When it's every-other word, f this and f that, f'n, f'n, f'n, the script becomes boring and typical. Replace them back with the original thoughts' words, and you've got comedy!!

Some "scenarios" are funny, I must add. The guy across the bar, the first aid for The Kid, the spar-session at the ring. The actors in their scenarios carried these scenes with selfish little help from the script.

It's an OK movie. I liked it. But I didn't think it was very funny; I just liked it. Good story, top-notch acting, nice weather.

5/10

Pointless is what a reviewer before me said. Pointless is right. I watched half one night, was so bored I went to bed. Watched the second half the next night, and literally said aloud to myself, "Why am I doing this?" wondering whether turning it off would be giving up. I hate giving up.

I kept trying with this one, and just had to give up. Forget how much I love the talent. Forget how much I wanted to see this. Forget how much I wanted to love this. It all just doesn't matter in the end - it's not worth it.

My favorite scene was the Tesla Coil. That was great. That was something. Something new. Something familiar. But that was it. That was the peak. The pique. The pinnacle. The highlight. And that was just more than half-way, if I remembrer correctly.

I am tired of mediocrity - in music, sitcoms, novels, lectures, prestentations, coworkers, lunch specials, customer service - and seriously, in movies - I spent $8 on this?!?

I don't need ground-breaking. I don't need high-tech. I need something above of, something more serious than, something more interesting than mediocre self-indulgence.

I give it an 'eh.

Karen