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French Film
Eric Cantona appears in this film that attempts to make something of the perceived difference in French and British attitudes to love
Journalist Jed Winter (Hugh Bonneville) is preparing to interview a celebrated French filmmaker (Eric Cantona) and is sceptical about the auteur's views on love. But when his own long-term girlfriend refuses to marry him and they start attending couples' counselling sessions, Winter is forced to reconsider his opinion.
Karl French, Financial Times: There's the kernel of a good film here and Anne-Marie Duff is on fine form as Jed's potential secondary love interest - but there's something fatally unresolved about the story and the characters. We're clearly meant to root for Jed, but for all Bonneville's trademark crumpled amiability, he never seems like a proper, rounded man. The treatment of French cinema is rather facile, and ultimately this is no more substantial than a half-decent television sitcom. (Verdict: three stars out of five).
Dave Calhoun, Time Out: Not a good film by a long stretch, but there's something so harmless about this debut directorial effort [by Jackie Oudney] that to pull it apart would be like savaging a child's first attempt at storywriting... Cantona's waffling is mildly amusing; the cast, including the always-genial Anne-Marie Duff, do a fair job; and there are moments of truth to do with deluded relationships. But the attempt to contrast 'French' and 'British' attitudes is no more than a red herring. (Verdict: two stars out of five) ·
