La critique de Biggies Co.nz.(fin)
However his latest case is his toughest yet, tasked with splitting up wealthy heiress Juliette Van Der Beck (Paradis) and her philanthropist fiancee Jonathan (Andrew Lincoln). Not only are they getting married in ten days time, it’s clear they are perfectly happy together. Too bad, because Alex has some burly debt-collectors after him and this is his only way out.With the set-up in place, it’s fairly obvious how the film will play out. While it’s an entertaining film, it doesn’t attempt anything too original within the rom-com genre.
It actually comes across as more American than French, with Frank Capra’s It Happened One Night clearly a big inspiration for first time director Pascal Chaumeil.I liked how Jonathan wasn’t stereotyped and made to look like a douchebag.It would have been easy to give him some dirty secret which undermined his ‘Mr Perfect’ status and get us rooting for Alex. Instead the developing romance between Alex and Juliette has to hold up on its own terms.
Watching Alex slowly win over Juliette despite her best attempts to shun him is amusing, especially when he puts on George Michael songs and starts learning moves from Dirty Dancing, her favourite movie. There are plenty of other funny scenes, with Alex’s business partners (husband and wife pairing Melanie and Marc) providing the majority of the laughs. Mark in particular, who gets himself into more than a little trouble with Vanessa’s nymphomaniac friend Sophie.Heartbreaker is a charming, light-hearted piece of fluff.
It ticks all the boxes for a solid rom-com – luscious setting, strong chemistry between the leads and a high laugh ratio. It makes a nice change to see Duris play a quick-thinking charmer rather than his usual brooding characters and Vanessa Paradis looks beautiful with plenty of wardrobe changes. You’ll certainly enjoy it – just don’t expect it to linger long afterwards.
Andrew Cozens
Récompenses et nominations
City of Lights, City of Angels (Los Angeles) 2010 : Prix spécial (Prix du Public)
César 2011 : nomination au César du meilleur film,
César du meilleur premier film,
César du meilleur acteur pour Romain Duris,
César du meilleur acteur dans un second rôle pour François Damiens et
César de la meilleure actrice dans un second rôle pour Julie Ferrier
2011 : Nomination meilleur acteur dans un second rôle au Magritte du cinéma
Globes de Cristal 2011: meilleur film
