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Kiss Chéri goodbye
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Michelle Pfeiffer plays an aging courtesan
in the costume drama, Cheri.
Chéri
Miramax Home Video
When it comes to movies I am not a prude. Nor am I opposed to excessive amounts of violence in film. I’ve got a high threshold for harsh language, and even though I hold to some pretty staunch religious and political views, I am perfectly willing to sit through a film that holds diametrically opposing views. What I can’t abide is a film that bores me. Unfortunately, the big-hat costume drama, Chéri, bored me to tears.
Michelle Pfeiffer plays Léa, a French courtesean of a certain age who has done exceedingly well for herself. In addition to the advantages she has secured from her lovers, she apparently has a good business head on her shoulders and has invested her money wisely. She can now take her ease and engage in a dalliance for fun instead of profit. She chooses to cavort with Fred (Rupert Friend), the 19 year old son of a fellow wealthy courtesean (Kathy Bates). And yes, Léa is old enough to be his mother.
I’m not sure what Léa saw in Fred, whom she christened Chéri. He is neither particularly masculine nor particularly attractive (at least not to my southern American sensibilities). He is self-centered, rude, bored and abrasive. He is indolent, lazy, conceited…well, the list just goes on and on. Yet for some inexplicable reason, Léa and Fred fall in love.
I could continue with the narrative, but what would be the point. How can a film that is so obviously about sex be so totally devoid of passion?
Love, which should have been celebrated, became the source of all misery – and perhaps it is when mishandled as badly as it was by the characters in this film. There was not a single, likable character in the entire film. The ones who weren’t conniving and corrupt were naïve and stupid. By the end of the film I just wanted them all to die. Unfortunately, only Fred fulfilled my wish.
I will admit the costuming was sumptuous.
There, I’ve said something nice. Now I can stop.
Chéri is inexplicably rated R for some sexual content and brief drug use.
Other DVD's I've reviewed:
The Proposal
My Life In Ruins
Children of All Ages
Legend of the Seeker: Season 1
Journey to Everest
Pete’s Dragon
The Union
Downe In Yon Forrest
Burn Notice: Season 1
Space Chimps
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