Date: 16 July 2010 15:43:40
L'arnacoeur - or Heartbreaker - to give it its English title is a French romcom starring Vanessa Paradis (aka Mrs Johnny Depp - and who looks like Madonna) and Romain Duris. The film took 10 million euros in its first 10 days in France breaking various box office records.
I'm not so sure it will do that here in the UK - partly because we don't yet use the euro ;-) and partly because I don't suppose it will get the exposure in the big cinema chains. Luckily for us in the ARC, we have a small indie -ish cinema that shows foreign-language films (and it has a French "season" on for the remainder of July so you may get another review or two before too long).
The plot revolves around Duris' job as a professional un-matchmaker - that is, he is employed to break up unsuitable relationships. He is in business with his sister and her husband who are quite hilarious as they take on various guises to support Duris. We see them as a window cleaner, chamber maid, taxi driver, etc. doing their bit to ensure that Duris is successful.
He takes on a new commission to separate Paradis from her well-heeled, good-looking British fiancé (Andrew Lincoln - who went to school in the ARC) before their wedding takes place in Monte Carlo in 10 days' time. Duris employs his usual tactics which all seem to fail and his project looks doomed. Without his fee for successful completion, he won't be able to pay off some henchmen who are on his trail. With Paradis' best friend turning up for some last-minute pre-marriage drunken fun (providing some moments of slapstick) and everything stacked against him, what can Duris do to achieve his goal?
I've read that the success of this film has already been noted by Hollywood which is already planning a remake. Why do they do this?! The film is a good romcom as it stands. Why can't they just leave well alone?