Customer Reviews

Femme Fatale (EP version) [VHS]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

To look at the cover, you would think this film is about a sex crazed, obsessed guy; so much for covers. In reality, the plot revolves around Joe Prince. Joe's quiet, a bit shy and a nice guy who thinks he's found his princess for life so he weds her and takes her home to the nature preserve via his charriot(a suitably beat up old truck) where he takes care of tree frogs and communes with nature. Joe thinks life is great right up until he comes home three days after the wedding and his princess has vanished, leaving behind a less than enlightening DEAR JOE letter. The rest of the film follows Joe as he tries to figure out who his wife is and where she went. Some aspects of the film are sketchy, I'll admit but Colin Firth makes Joe a likeable character who just wants his wife and life back though I am not sure that is ultimately a good thing for him. Billy Zane is great as the artist/friend Joe turns to and is very funny at times. Lisa Zane is OK but not as believable in her role as Colin or Billy are. Some of the supporting cast are stereotypical and good for a few laughs(unintentionally). The ending is alittle too pat and contrived but still a very watchable film, especially for any Firth fans.

This would make a charming love story if it weren't so bogged down in the "seedy" plot. Colin Firth plays Joe Prince who obviously adores his wife even though she is neurotic, psychotic, and generally unlovable. He searches for her following her abrupt disappearence only three days after their wedding, finds out all kinds of less-than-wholesome things about her, then continues to look for her anyway. Although it is a charming idea, I am not sure how realistic this might actually be. Guys like this are so rare that they must already be in heaven. No matter what, Colin Firth is first-rate (as always), his friend, Elijah, played by Billy Zane, is also done very well, but the rest of the cast rates a C- or even lower. I would watch it again to focus only on the romantic scenes, and fast-forward over the rest.

I wish I could have given this movie 5 stars, but I am biased. Joseph Prince is, in my opinion Colin Firth's most charming character (and I always think he deserves 5 stars!). Lisa Zane is convincing, as is the man who plays her father. Billy Zane is believable as Joe's bud. Overall, the story is mediocre as is the rest of the cast. However, there are some touching and some laugh-out-loud scenes which make this a movie worth watching.

It's not easy to be a Colin Firth fan when he has movies such as this one. He is the only redeeming factor in this film. His proposal to the crazy woman is worth the cost of adding this movie to your collection. I fail to see why anyone who is not a fan of CF would bother with this one.