Reviewer: James Van Maanen
Rating (out of 5): ***½
The reputation the French have for creating romantic comedy non pareil is well-deserved. In the last few years alone, we've had sophisticated charmers from Shall We Kiss to Priceless to Après vous. Now comes yet another, sporting a knock-out premise that is so original that it almost makes it impossible for the movie to live up to its nifty/nasty concept. That it finally does is due as much to the mysterious workings of chemistry between actors (Romain Duris and Vanessa Paradis) and the talent of new director Pascal Chaumeil (pronounced Show-may), as to the film's very funny and unusual script.
I’ll not give away, plot-wise, even that very smart premise -- and, yes, it is tempting to talk about. Instead, be content with knowing that Heartbreaker (L'arnacoeur) involves a dashing and sexy young man (Duris), his nifty sister (Julie Ferrier...
Rating (out of 5): ***½
The reputation the French have for creating romantic comedy non pareil is well-deserved. In the last few years alone, we've had sophisticated charmers from Shall We Kiss to Priceless to Après vous. Now comes yet another, sporting a knock-out premise that is so original that it almost makes it impossible for the movie to live up to its nifty/nasty concept. That it finally does is due as much to the mysterious workings of chemistry between actors (Romain Duris and Vanessa Paradis) and the talent of new director Pascal Chaumeil (pronounced Show-may), as to the film's very funny and unusual script.
I’ll not give away, plot-wise, even that very smart premise -- and, yes, it is tempting to talk about. Instead, be content with knowing that Heartbreaker (L'arnacoeur) involves a dashing and sexy young man (Duris), his nifty sister (Julie Ferrier...
- 1/24/2011
- by underdog
- GreenCine
Heartbreaker (2010) is directed by Pascal Chaumeil and starring Romain Duris, Vanessa Paradis, Julie Ferrier, François Damiens, Héléna Noguerra, Andrew Lincoln, Jacques Frantz and Amandine Dewasmes. Pascal Chaumeil’s debut feature calls for an addendum to the inventory of French superiority over the English. Alongside charm, sophistication, elegance, fashion, food, poetry, art, and bedroom skills, now find: well made, unashamedly commercial romantic-comedies. Heartbreaker exhibits a derivative concept, a predictable arc and a straightforward execution that somehow amounts to a film that, in its better moments, is exotic, glamorous, engaging and funny. If it had been British it would’ve been a mess. But it’s not. It’s French, and it’s got Vanessa Paradis and Romain Duris in it.
- 11/20/2010
- by Joe Fraser
- Pure Movies
Chicago – If there’s one genre Hollywood has managed to screw up beyond all recognition, it’s the romantic comedy. Many of the worst films in recent years have brought the genre to an all-time low, such as “Leap Year,” “Love Happens,” and anything starring Gerard Butler. These dumbed-down products use stereotypes in place of characters, incessant sparring in place of chemistry and gooey sentiment in place of a tangible heart.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
That’s what makes “Heartbreaker” such a delight. Though the film is a hit comedy from France, it absolutely does not (and should not) warrant an American remake. First-time feature director Pascal Chaumeil has crafted a film so slick and enjoyable, not to mention pop-culture savvy, that it could easily win over mainstream audiences in the U.S., regardless of its subtitles. Plus the film provides an ideal showcase for two stars armed with formidable international appeal. It...
Rating: 3.5/5.0
That’s what makes “Heartbreaker” such a delight. Though the film is a hit comedy from France, it absolutely does not (and should not) warrant an American remake. First-time feature director Pascal Chaumeil has crafted a film so slick and enjoyable, not to mention pop-culture savvy, that it could easily win over mainstream audiences in the U.S., regardless of its subtitles. Plus the film provides an ideal showcase for two stars armed with formidable international appeal. It...
- 9/17/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
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