Um Amor à Altura

I particularly enjoyed the first half of this movie as I could totally relate to it. Not exactly by me dating such a short man, but men with other physical short falls that I wrestled with. Shallow, I know. This couple were so wonderful to watch and the chemistry between them was great. I absolutely loved the dance scene - I really was not expecting him to be such a good dancer. The 2nd half strayed way too much into typical Hollywood Rom-Coms, which I avoid like the plague- especially the ending. Still, overall - a good, watchable film with a gorgeous leads.

Digital effects and camera tricks have come a far way. Someone most definitely took a page out of the LotR and Hobbit movies on how to shoot a normal sized person with others, for the prior to appear like a small person. And it's nice to see someone as charismatic as Dujardin struggling because of his size. You see it does matter after all - or maybe it doesn't? The movie will provide the answer.

Public perspective may not be everything, but it's not shallow if you do care about the people around you and what you look like. Of course it is way more important to feel good about yourself in the first place. It that isn't the case, you are not even halfway there. It's nicely build up and while we go through the (expected) motions, we can still have fun watching this. Not a great movie, but a nice one ...

Yet another failed French Comedy. This decade has not been kind for French Cinema and comedies are pretty catastrophic. This one is no exception.

The main issue to enjoy this movie is suspension of disbelief : the special effects used for Jean Dujardin to become a small man just don't work. They're incredibly botched: Dujardin looks inserted into every scene, nothing flows naturally and, most importantly, he doesn't look like a short man, he looks like a shrunk man. There's a difference and it's a big one. He looks like somebody kneeling, he looks like somebody you put on a smaller chair and in SFX he looks shrunk to 60%

So one can never get into the movie simply because it doesn't look right.

And then you have to go through a fairly ridiculous Rom Com, quite by the books hence predictable, not funny for a single moment and not charming for another.

With the exception of Efira...who's just great. But even her charm and wits can not save this movie. Pass Pass Pass

This is the classic French romcom with a twist. A dashing architect and a big girl lawyer fall in love with each other. Who wouldn't, they've got everything going for them, so much so that it's sheer willpower that keeps them from falling heels over head in love with themselves. And every man should take a few pointers from Alexandre how to properly woo a woman. The only hitch is that this French lover stands barely 1,40 m tall. Although this predicament is obvious from the start, and I felt a bit nauseous about how truly wonderful Alexandre is (he's great at anything), the movie still provides a lot of momentum and keeps the story going. It's especially fun to watch how they make the 1,82 m tall actor Jean Dujardin appear to be only 1,36 m tall by a number of old school tricks (his counterpart Diane (Virginie Efira) standing on a box, or Jean Dujardin kneeling) and CGI (green screen).

Up for love is a movie about Alexandre, a little man that with his charming and gallant attitude tries to win the heart of equally charming and pretty Diana. I felt identified with Alexandre, since in the past I had a girlfriend that was taller than me xD

The movie focus a little in the socially acceptable side of the relationship without becoming too serious. It also has a few funny moments here and there. I think the best of the film is the performance of both actors, but I specially like Virginie's Efira portrayal of Diana.

Finally, it has been a long time since I don't see a delightful movie like this, and Up for Love becomes like an oasis in the middle of Hollywood blockbuster movies that I usually end up watching. I enjoyed it a lot.