Product Details

• Actors: Guillaume Canet, Marion Cotillard, Thibault Verhaeghe, Joséphine Lebas-Joly, Emmanuelle Grönvold
• Directors: Yann Samuell
• Writers: Yann Samuell
• Producers: Christophe Rossignon, Hicham Kadiri, Patrick Quinet, Stephane Quinet, Čve Machuel
• Format: Color, Subtitled, Widescreen, Surround Sound, NTSC
• Language: French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)
• Subtitles: English
• Dubbed: French
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: R (Restricted)
• Studio: Paramount
• DVD Release Date: October 19, 2004
• Run Time: 93 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (84 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0002V7TI8
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #103,809 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Love Me If You Dare" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

A huge hit in France, Love Me if You Dare takes the traditional l'amour fou scenario and runs it through a pinball machine. From childhood, Julien and Sophie engage in an obsessive battle of one-upmanship: if one of them hands a brightly colored candy tin to the other and makes a dare, the recipient is bound to honor it, no matter how destructive or dangerous the dare might be. When this wacky habit enters adulthood and begins wrecking their lives, they ought to change... but that's not how l'amour fou works. Part Amelie-style comedy, part dark fable, this movie has quirkiness to burn, if not always as much charm as it thinks it has. Leads Guillaume Canet and Marion Cotillard are ardent, although somewhat out-acted by their juvenile counterparts in the film's early section. If you're curious about what would've happened to Amelie if she took her obsession to its logical conclusion, hop aboard. --Robert Horton

Product Description

LOVE ME IF YOU DARE depicts the romantic story of Julian and Sophie, who meet in grade school and create an intense game of "Dare" to distract them from the harsh realities of their lives. Over time their game becomes a mutual infatuation that binds them for life. Ultimately the childhood game remains with them into adulthood where it challenges their most cherished fantasies. Eventually, each of them is forced to decide between the game and genuine romance.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Compare to Amelie and Enjoy It For What It Is February 22, 2005

By Maggie

Format:DVD

After the success of "Amelie," the Hollywood marketing machine is in desperate search of the next big foreign romantic comedy and likewise misleads the public by packaging every movie to come out of France as the sequel to "Amelie." "Love Me if You Dare" is very much a romantic BLACK comedy, a fact that will likely turn off viewers who come in strictly with an "Amelie" mindset. Don't, and I think you'll really appreciate what THIS movie has to offer, which is a charm all its own. For those of you unsure of what to expect from a romantic black comedy, think "Secretary" but without the S&M.

I was really pleasantly surprised by this movie because I loved "Amelie" and hated "Secretary," yet I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The story of two people so obviously in love with each other yet so wrong for each other turns the romantic comedy archetype on its head. And it's not just the typical "he/she is from the wrong side of the tracks" storyline although that plays a part. There are SO many reasons why Sophie and Julien should not be together, so much so that in any other movie you would end up hating one or both characters, but you can't help but like and want them to be together. It's so cheesy to say "Oh, they're soulmates" but they are and it's not a neat, pretty package. I love how this movie explores that idea because it shows everything that goes along with love - jealously, anger, bitterness, passion, and even hatred. It's messy and it can be dark, but it's also the most exhilarating, undiminished thing in your life.

Don't be turned off by my review - it's not all dark. There are enough moments of whimsy to satisfy the most avid "Amelie"-lover out there. Some moments will make you laugh out loud. And some moments will make you blanch.... But it's love in all its guts and glory. "Love Me if You Dare" adds some much needed edginess and originality to the current stream of banal and redundant romantic comedies. "Amelie" was wonderful but give this movie the chance it deserves. Read more ›

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST love story I've seen in a long time. September 9, 2004

By J.G.

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have only seen this movie in French while I was in France and I loved it! There are so many twists and turns in the movie that it keeps you wondering what will happen next. It also has an amazing love story involving the two main characters, who you will fall in love with. They have wonderful on-screen chemistry. The ending is one that you will argue what you think it meant with others. I love this movie and am pre-ordering it.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Love Means Saying "Game" August 27, 2005

By Only-A-Child VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

The first feature from French director Yann Samuell is an "expressionistic" allegory about love, disguised as a romantic fantasy. It is about how in our relationships we never outgrow childhood games or fully recover from insecurities caused by deep childhood wounds. It is about how people in love constantly test each other. Each dare is a renewed demand for the other person to prove their love, no matter what the sacrifice.

"Love Me If You Dare" is a gimmick translation of "Jeux d'enfants", a better translation would be "Games of Children". But given the general confusion about this film by English speaking viewers and critics the inaccurate title is probably appropriate. Film Theory 101 would include a discussion of the two basic film extremes, realism and expressionism. Generally the closer a film comes to reproducing reality, the less room there is for the filmmaker to express his artistry. Which is not to say that realism is necessarily less manipulative than expressionism, both aim to affect their viewing audience, expressionism is just less constrained.

When you are used to a steady diet of Hollywood realism, it is difficult to switch gears and watch a film like "Jeux d'enfants" without attempting to force it into the realism mold. The temptation is to gloss over the surreal elements and to take everything you see literally. But Samuell has a background as an illustrator and designer. Note the inventive visuals that employ a multitude of cardboard cutouts and idyllic fantasy settings. This is expressionism. Note the accelerated action segments and strange transitions. This is expressionism. Note the interesting time passage montages and flashbacks....

While you sometimes see similar stuff incorporated into a realistic film, it is explained away as a dream, hallucination, or memory. Here it is a tip-off that this is a surreal allegory like Bunuel's "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie". If you avoid taking "Jeux d'enfants" too literally, stop being judgmental about the actions and motivations of its characters, and focus instead on picking up its allegorical elements you will probably understand it better and enjoy it more.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child. Read more ›

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Twisted, sick, yet strangely entertaining April 17, 2005

By Toomuchtimeonmyhands

Format:DVD

First off, don't be fooled by the romantic cover or the Amelie comparisons it gets. The first part of the movie is very touching and sweet like Amelie, but once these little rascals grow up, all hell breaks loose.

I'll spare you a synopsis, but basically this is a movie about two people who I think really are in love with eachother(they form an undeniable bond as children), but don't know how to turn off the dare button to be honest enough about their true feelings and are too insecure to be the first one to assert their love. And so, the dare game continues to some really disturbing levels. Disturbing, yes-but in a sorta "aha-top that one!" entertaining way, where you do anticipate how each will raise the bar each time. It's a sick exercise, but there you go.

It's sad in a way too cause by the time they are honest enough, things are just too much of a mess by then. I watched it again for the second time, and actually the earlier parts of the film come off much more sadly because both attempt to express their feelings, but are shut down by the other's insecure responses. That part of the movie is what rings true to me actually, and so it makes the movie have a sad, regretful tone to it, even though the more sensational parts of the movie get the spotlight....