Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
What French Films Do Best, January 23, 2006
This review is from: Apres Vous (DVD)
Apres Vous is an excellent way to pass a couple of hours. Antoine (Daniel Auteuil) saves Louis (José Garcia) from hanging himself late at night in a park and because he is the sweet, concerned, reliable guy he is takes on Louis as a sort of human reclamation project. Among the many funny moments throughout the film -- the visit to Louis grandparents' to intercept the suicide letter he has written them where Louis finds out that they sabotaged his relationship with the girlfriend whose loss drove him to the attempted suicide; the funniest job interview since the shoe salesman interview in one of Francois Truffaut's films; and watching the personalities of the two men begin to merge. Their ostensible romantic interests, Christine and Blanche, are secondary to their own buddy relationship even as both of them fall in love with Blanche. By the time the film reaches its bittersweet, but mostly happy ending, Antoine has salvaged a life, Jose has become a superb sommelier and Apres Vous has proved again that no culture does light, life comedy like the French.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Romantic Comedy in the True French Manner, November 10, 2005
This review is from: Apres Vous (DVD)
It seems when it comes to romantic comedies the French have the corner on the market and technique. APRES VOUS is a bit of pastiche with a storyline that borders on absurd, but in the hands of director Pierre Salvadori it becomes not only an enjoyable farce, but also a tender little statement about compassion. Antoine (Daniel Anteuil) is the fastidious and ultra compassionate manager of a high-class restaurant who bends over backwards for his staff, his patrons, and anybody who crosses his path who appears needy. He ends up making his girlfriend Christine (Marilyne Canto) take second place to his humanitarian concerns and this puts a strain on his relationship. One evening in a rush to meet Christine he encounters Louis (José Garcia) who is in the process of hanging himself in the park, his desired finale to a life of frustration and loss of his girlfriend Blanche (Sandrine Kiberlain). Naturally Antoine rescues him, feeds him, even brings him home, all the while putting his life on hold to help Louis heal his wounds. Louis is most concerned about the loss of Blanche and Antoine immediately commits his efforts to find her, woo her back for Louis (including revealing Blanche's current boyfriend's infidelity) - but in the process there develops a mutual attraction between Antoine and Blanche! Antoine arranges for Louis to get a job at his restaurant despite Louis' depression and lack of training. Just when everything seems to be turning out for the best, Christine leaves Antoine, and the circumstances surrounding Antoine's salvage of Louis' life change and the ending is somewhat of a French twist! The acting is fine, the pacing is fine, the only problem is with the characters themselves: we soon tire of Antoine's absurd selflessness and Louis' nerdy helplessness and that hampers the identification with these characters. Other than that the film is a brisk, sweet little French farce that leaves you humming. Grady Harp, November 05
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
This French Farce Has Occasional Heart, But Lacks The Requisite Humor, February 11, 2007
This review is from: Apres Vous (DVD)
"Apres Vous" is, on the surface, a likable film. While many will get caught up in its slight, and familiar charms, I quickly came to the realization that the film was neither funny enough or original enough to qualify as top-notch French farce (a subclass of films that I quite enjoy). While not a complete disaster, it does take a great and inventive premise and eventually waters it down into predictable romantic fare. The film starts out so promisingly. Daniel Auteuil (are there any French films he isn't in?) stars as a successful and respected headwaiter at a fine Parisian dining establishment. On his way home one night, he spies a man attempting to hang himself in the local park. This sadsack, played by Jose Garcia, is virtually silent and despondent over a lost love. The rescue scene is quite amusing, and Auteuil (ever the good guy) takes Garcia home with him. Now Auteuil takes on the role of benefactor and protector for his fragile new friend, even as it puts his own relationship in jeopardy. Over the next few weeks, the men bond--Auteuil provides new confidence, a new job, and attempts to locate the woman from Garcia's past. This being farce--the workplace scenes are outrageously improbable. This actually detracts from the picture because they require such a suspension of disbelief. The search for Garcia's ex is particularly complicated as she is engaged and Auteuil also finds her alluring. But my issue with "Apres Vous" has less to do with the plot than with the characterization of Garcia. Meant to be amusingly insecure, he comes across as annoyingly inept. It becomes extremely difficult to root for him because for much of the picture he is nothing but a blob of tics and complaints. Far from being hysterical, it's impossible to imagine that anyone would have put up with him! Near the end, much of the humor goes by the wayside as we reach for an obligatory romantic conclusion. I didn't, as I said, terribly dislike this film. However, I did feel that it had the potential to be so much better. It's never a good thing when a farce doesn't keep you laughing--for when you're not laughing, you start to recognize a film's limitations. Slight, unassuming, pleasant--there are worse things out there. KGHarris, 02/07.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
