Iris et les hommes

Director Caroline Vignal has reunited with Cesar winning Laure Calamy for this dramedy about a woman looking to find herself sexually after she realises how stale her physical relationship has become with her husband; played here by Vincent Elbaz. I went into this film with high hopes, and whilst I enjoyed it, I was a little underwhelmed by the scripting which ultimately let down the brilliant leading lady.

I have really been enjoying Laure Calamy's evolution as an actor in recent years, and her turn as 'Antoinette' in 'My Lover, My Donkey & I' (also known as 'Antoinette in the Cevennes') won her hearts around the world, this character of 'Iris' feels like a bit of a step back. As always likable and relatable as Laure is in her movies (the actor is blessed with a warm, natural air about her), I wonder if she is a little limited range wise, as these morally fluid characters she has played several times now ('Les Cyclades' - aka 'Two Tickets To Greece' last year was another role in that vein), will get a bit thin, if the material is not sharp enough to carry her.

'Full Time' for which Laure was again Cesar nominated was terrific and she displayed a gritty and more serious side; so too 'Annie's Fire', but 'Iris & The Men' suffers from too many tonal shifts; making it hard to connect with our protagonist at times.

There is an inventive use of technology in this movie and some funny ways to convey the journey 'Iris' takes in getting to know herself sexually, but in the end, the conclusion and piece de resistance, feels somewhat contrived and therefore not earned.

But there is a lot to enjoy about Laure here. Her comedic tics and timing are well utilised. I just wish the material had been stronger, sharper and that the tone was a little more consistent. Depending on your own morality, you may like and endorse everything that 'Iris' instigates for herself. For me, I appreciated the journeys that Writer/Director Vignal and star Calamy took in the Cevennes more than the urbane Parisian ones taken here.

Laure Calamy is a French comedian whom I immediately empathize with, even though her films are not particularly hilarious. They are fun, light, and friendly. They leave a smile on your face and a contagious good mood.

This Iris rediscovers her husband's love through date encounters on Tinder. A mature but attractive woman, with natural carnal desires but who has allowed herself to settle into a seemingly dead marriage. The funny image of this situation is her, in bed, reading the book "The Frozen Woman" while waiting for her husband's sexual advances.

On the other hand, there is the hilarious scene in which she leaves a romantic encounter with a stranger singing "It's Raining Men", in French, dancing and transforming the passers-by into dancers and chorus members in a musical, a tribute to the sexually satisfied woman.

There is a slightly moralistic touch at the end, which is not uncommon in Calamy's films, which only appears after a lot of irreverence and "sin". Calamy is just like that, a fallen angel always in search of her wings.

It's not a reference, but it's fun enough to justify watching it.

This film got a bit boring (to me) as it didn't have an interesting story or a good setting. The last film that I saw Laure Calamy in was "Antoinette in the Cevennes" which had an interesting story where she hires a donkey, to follow the walk in the Cevennes that her lover was planning to take. The scenery was lovely as well. Unfortunately "Iris and the Men" is nowhere near as interesting. For one thing, it lacks the fun supplied by the donkey, and there is no great scenery. The men she meets are not as appealing as her husband, and also the dialogue is not scintilating. She is a great actress but couldn't do much with this boring story.