Here's a novel idea -- hire a professional con man to break up your daughter, sister, or friend from a man who is just not good enough. This boyfriend could be described as a loser, brute, lout, jerk or even more colorfully. If he isn't making her unhappy now, he certainly will in the future. Honestly, if the Heartbreaker did exist, I'd hire him myself for a certain sister of mine. Alex Lippi (Romain Duris) will show her the error of her ways compassionately and ethically. With his sister (Julie Ferrier) and her husband (Francois Damiens), they form a Mission Impossible team who with exhaustive research, split second timing, disguises and farcical maneuvering, save the targeted woman from a grim fate. Alex is not only charming, he is specifically the dream man each young woman finds ideal. When they no long want their boyfriends, he lets them down easy and encourages them to live their lives to the fullest and not to settle again. All ends happily, except for the jerks these women leave, but who cares?
Here's the snag. Alex is hired by a rich (Jacques Frantz) industrialist to save his daughter from someone who is actually a real Prince Charming (Andrew Lincoln) . He's handsome, devoted, rich.... perfect. And the daughter, Juliette (Vanessa Paradis - Johnny Depp's long time paramour) eagerly looks forward to the upcoming nuptials. If it weren't for the loan shark and his goon threatening Alex with immanent harm and death if an outstanding debt is not immediately paid, he wouldn't take the case. So, on very little notice, with little time to prepare, under stress from the loan shark, and feeling morally conflicted about the whole situation, Alex and his associates take to task. It's funny, charming, original and endearing. The beginning of the film shows Alex and his team at work in many of his previous cases -- different women with different ideas about the perfect man, in many different countries with lots of split second timing and psychological acuity at work. It may be the best part of the film, but stay anyway and watch Alex's fortress of professionalism and isolation come tumbling down.
Unfortunately, there is no doubt that within a couple of years, Hollywood will get its hands on the script, butcher it and transform yet another original French comedy into typical fast food, multiplex fodder. Take for example previous French comedies > Hollywood drek.
Dinner for Schmucks (2010) from Le Diner de Cons (1998)
Cousins (1989) from Cousin Cousine (1975)
Pure Luck (1991) from La Chevre (1981)
Father's Day (1997) from Les Comperes (1983)
The Man with One Red Shoe (1985) from Le grand blond avec une chaussure noire (1972)
The Birdcage (1996) from La cage aux folles (1978)-- this one is really the only good one among the pack mostly due to Robin Williams', Nathan Lane's and Hank Azaria's spot-on performances.
All the American versions or a pale, slapstick, insensitive version of their far superior inspirations. So, make a point to see Heartbreaker to get the full effect of the humor, originality and charm before Will Ferrell and Jennifer Anniston botch it up.
Heartbreaker (L'arnacoeur)
Director: Pasqual Chaumeil
Cast: Romain Duris, Vanessa Paradis, Julie Ferrier, Francois Damiens, Helena Noguenak, Andrew Lincoln, Jacques Frantz
Writers: Laurent Zeitoun, Jeremy Doner, Yohan Gromb
Time: 104 min.
Opens September 17 at the Embarcadero in San Francisco
Comments