mes amis au ciné

Best place to be on a cold, wet and windy July day in Melbourne? Lounging in a warm, cosy cinema to watch a new release movie. On today's program: a newly-released French comedy-drama Mes Amis, Mes Amours (or My Friends, My Loves) (apparently from 2007), based on the novel of the same name, at the Brighton Bay.

Well, it was a bit of a contrast to Bruno, but Mes Amis, Mes Amours was entertaining in its own way, with some nice, inoffensive comedic moments and pleasant performances all around, including the two most agreeable child-characters I can ever recall seeing in a movie. I'm not a fan of kids on film, but these two really contributed to the story, without being unbearably sweet or distracting.

I was familiar with both Pascal Elbé and Virginie Ledoyen from several other films, and enjoyed seeing them again, along with 'new' actors in the other roles. Not a classic movie by any means, but rather, an enjoyable and entertaining riff on the old 'odd couple' theme. Interestingly, there was a strong gay sub-text to the main plot of two divorced fathers moving in together, but in typical French style, the script went out of its way to make it clear that, despite the appearance of their relationship, they were strictly straight! A pleasant film for an arvo at the theatre. 3 & 1/2 stars.