In my mind, there are few women that possess such unrivaled beauty and class — not to mention screen presence — than the lovely Audrey Tautou. Because of this genuine charm it’s no wonder she was the top pick for Salvadori’s romantic comedy, “Priceless.”
This might seem off base, but I actually hate the name for the genre: Romantic Comedy. I think that it sells many films short. It seems like there’s a more appropriate genre that has yet to be named, one that’s a better fit. Then again, there’s no doubting the components of this film. It contains both romance and comedy in equal parts, and is most definitely not dramatic, at least not in the traditional sense. Even still, there’s an ingredient that eludes me — something that I can’t readily identify. Perhaps it’s that the film is refreshing, different and so far removed from the Hollywood Rom-Com formula that it almost feels like new.
Whatever the reason, this film is a breath of fresh air amidst the Hollywood sappy-dreck that’s churned out every year. A lot of the strengths of the film are owed to its foreign roots. With this comes a a great foreign cast, a fresh perspective on love, and a pristine, unique script that doesn’t read as though it’s been script-doctored to all hell. The result is a surprisingly endearing and unexpected comedy that explores the world of “gold digging” and a budding romance between two unlikely candidates: a bartender and a gold digger.
Worth noting is the genuinely humorous comedic effort of the leading man, Gad Elmaleh. Equal parts slapstick and deadpan, Elmaleh continuously made me laugh and smile throughout the film. I can only imagine that his extremely expressive face, and comedic timing was cultivated over the years through interaction with his father, a mime. He was as perfectly cast to represent the hopeless romantic, Jean, as he was paired with the lovely Tautou.
If you fancy foreign films, Audrey Tautou, or just happen to love French films in general, this is definitely worth picking up. It may not reinvent the rom-com wheel, but it definitely has a fresh take on it.
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