FRENCH TWIST
A film review by Ben Hoffman
Copyright 1996 Ben Hoffman
FRENCH TWIST has a humorous premise and for most of the film it carries out its promise to be funny. If only directors would know when to quit when they are ahead.
The film is about a love triangle but this being a comedy as well as being French, do not anticipate the usual triangle.
Loli (Victoria Abril) is a pretty housewife who has a husband, Laurent, (Alain Chabat) who deals in high-priced real estate. Loli understands that his job keeps him working late, never suspecting that much of the time Laurent is cheating on her. After a while she makes that discovery and she is, naturally, angry. Little wonder that there has hardly been any sex of late.
One day a woman, @Marijo (@Josiane @Balasko), a Lesbian, pulls up in a truck and asks for some water as her car's water has leaked. Marijo and Loli have a cup of coffee while Marijo listens to @Loli's tale of woe. Pretty soon she comes on to Loli who, in the mood she is in, responds with hugs and kisses. Marijo is invited to stay and sleep on the couch but Laurent will have none of that. He is one jealous cheat.
Unlike other triangle films, tables get turned in the most odd and humorous way. However, just when the film appears to have concluded with a good finale, up comes on the screen, THREE MONTHS LATER. This leads to turning a light comedy into an unbelievable farce, to say nothing of adding more minutes to the film than was necessary. Well, at least it was funny up until then.
In French with English subtitles.
Written, playing Marijo, and Directed by Josiane Balasko
2.5 Bytes
4 bytes - Superb
3 bytes = Too good to miss
2 bytes = So so
1 byte = Save your money
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