Up For Love, 2016.
Directed by Laurent Tirard.
Starring Jean Dujardin, Virginie Efira, Cedric Kahn and Stephanie Papanian.
SYNOPSIS:
Successful lawyer Diane (Virginie Efira) is in the midst of breaking up with husband Bruno (Cedric Kahn) but it’s complicated by their being business partners. After an angry dinner together, she storms out of the restaurant but leaves her mobile behind, for it to be found by Alexandre (Jean Dujardin) who calls her to arrange to return it. She’s in for a surprise when they meet. He’s just 4 feet 5 inches tall. She’s charmed by his zest for life and generosity but as their relationship develops, other people’s attitudes towards his stature – and her own reaction to them – become more problematic.
It’s no spoiler to say that Jean Dujardin’s character in Up For Love is shorter than average. You can tell by looking at the poster or any of the promotional material for the film. Nor is it the first time that the French have given us a romantic hero whose appearance challenges convention and is potentially an issue – not just for him, but for the lady in his life, and for the world in general. There was a guy with a large nose called Cyrano De Bergerac, who became a fireman played by Steve Martin in the romantic comedy, Roxanne (1987).
Now, thanks to the wonders of CGI, we now have a 4 foot 5 inches Dujardin. Small but perfectly formed, as they say. He may not have Cyrano’s poetic gifts, but the humour and warmth in his voice is irresistible for Diane when they first speak on the phone and she’s naturally intrigued. So this is a rom com trying to do something serious at the same time – confront attitudes towards people whose appearance doesn’t fit the mould. It would be hard to class his lack of height as an actual disability as he doesn’t suffer from any form of dwarfism, but it certainly causes him practical problems. When he sits down his feet often don’t touch the ground, while high bar stools are like a mountaineering expedition. But he’s perfectly in proportion. That’s CGI for you.
Despite their difference in height, he and Diane make a lovely couple. She’s taller than average – like a lot of his friends – blonde and very attractive. And he’s good looking as well. But people stare, snigger and whisper behind their hands, making judgements based purely on appearances. That’s people for you. Even worse is when people simply don’t notice him and knock him flying.
But, social attitudes and practical problems aside, this is still very much a rom-com: appealing, funny and lightweight so it’s never likely to dig deep into the subject. And on the rare occasions that it tries, it becomes heavy handed. Diane’s mother, Nicole (Manoelle Gaillard) is married to her second husband, Philippe (Bruno Gomila), who has a serious hearing impairment. Yet her tactlessness when it comes to her daughter’s “little man” is wince making – until Philippe points out that he’s the one living with somebody with a disability, not the other way round. It’s hardly subtle and jars with the otherwise crisp tone of the film.
Of course, some of the humour is prompted by Alexandre’s height, such as his efforts to get some napkins from the top of a tall bookcase and the over-enthusiastic welcome he always receives from his son’s over-sized dog. But not all of it. Diane and Bruno’s assistant, Coralie (Stephanie Papanian) is in the unenviable position of being their go-between and artfully exploits it by stirring up the animosity between the two. They fall for it every time, while we sit back, chuckling to our heart’s content. She’s a treat.
The film does, however, raise a couple of questions, one less serious than the other. Why, if Alexandre is such a successful and wealthy architect, is his luxurious house not designed for his needs? The only concession to his lack of height is a bathroom stool that he uses when he’s shaving, but everything else is geared towards somebody of at least average height. It doesn’t make sense. Perhaps more controversial is the choice of an actor just under 6 feet tall to play somebody a lot smaller and using CGI to make him fit the bill. It’s probably down to the box office: Dujardin’s name could mean wider distribution and it’s a story with broad appeal.
Romantic, sweet and with plenty of Gallic charm, Up For Love doesn’t have the weight to make a serious point about placing too much emphasis on appearances. But, as a rom com, it has plenty of humour, warmth, all delivered at a slick pace. It’s also the third time this story has come to the big screen: the others came from Argentina and Colombia and were both called Corazon de Leon. So which country will be next to pick it up? And what price an English version? Nominations for the male lead on a postcard please …….
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Freda Cooper – Follow me on Twitter, check out my movie blog and listen to my podcast, Talking Pictures.
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