Utterly charming throwback to the French New Wave. While the title refers to Agnes Varda's Cleo from 5 to 7, the plot feels a bit more like Rohmer's Chloe in the Afternoon, and Truffaut's Jules and Jim is featured prominently in the film itself. As it moves on, it switches from a more intellectual French view of romance into a more passionate American view of it. Despite becoming more conventional, it works well thematically with the clash of French and American values. The film follows a 20-something writer in New York City (Anton Yelchin, still feeling a bit forced with an American accent) who falls for a married French woman (Berenice Marlohe). He doesn't want to be a homewrecker, but she insists that this is perfectly normal in her culture and that her husband (Lambert Wilson) has his own mistress (who will appear later and be played by Olivia Thirlby). It just has to be kept casual, and between 5 and 7, which is like the understood times these things are done. The relationship blossoms and Yelchin soon even becomes part of the family. As a young American, though, Yelchin's love grows too big and he hopes to make more of it than just an affair. This is a remarkably charming little film, and a surprisingly romantic one. It may not be that surprising, but it's quite good. Glenn Close and Frank Langella also co-star as Yelchin's parents.
