User reviews

Heartbreaker (2010)

The latest Romain Duris romantic comedy, which is a kind of backwards "Hitch" and it's even more fun. It takes a short while to establish the central cast of characters, but the premise is made clear right away. The leading man seduces women who are about to marry the "wrong" guy. He then steps out of the way, leaving the woman high and dry. Both the "wrong" engagement and his own new involvement are on ice.

This is more hilarious than such a formula film should be. It's a kind of escapist comedy, but with such good pedigree and filmmaking chops you really get swept away. Duris can be really a charmer, and his two sidekicks are hilarious as well as heartwarming.

The fact it's mostly set in Monte Carlo gives it a compact, glitzy charm (far more glitzy than Bahrain, for my money, speaking of money). The plot goes as planned at first, of course. But inevitably things go very wrong. After some last minute swerves and laughs, things seem to go right, until the final ending, which I'll leave to you. It really is like "Hitch" or "Failure to Launch," which set up a kind of protocol for how everyone should behave, and within that set of rules people misbehave. It's the latest kind of screwball comedy formula, and a dependable one, especially this well made.

Most of it is in French, but a bit is in English, too, for the subtitle averse. And all the music is in English (interestingly, but typically). But never mind too much. You could almost get it all without words. Funny, warm, witty, well made fluff stuff.

The title means "The Heartbreaker." This charming and smoothly executed if far-fetched farce/action/rom-com about a team of professional marriage-derailers-for-hire has won rave reviews along with top box office in France (Allociné critical rating 3.0 (72). As has already been written in a US review, this is exactly the kind of thing Hollywood loves to copy but never manages to do with the required Gallic lightness and elegance. Actually there's a slight overload of added slapstick and violence this time; still, the action movies on such well-greased wheels and the actors perform with such dash, the movie never ceases to entertain.

The premise: Duris and his sister (Julie Ferrier) and her husband (François Damiens) run an outfit specializing in breaking up impending weddings by showing the bride that her fiancé isn't as desirable a match as Duris. Duris, AKA Alex, withdraws with a touching story about how he's too heartbroken to be the one. Usually a rich father employs the team to perform this scam. Such is the case when Vanessa Paridis is about to marry Jonathan, a wealthy young Englishman (Andrew Lincoln). The job goes against Duris' basic rule never to break up a match when the couple is genuinely in love with each other -- as these two are. Also the deadline to stop the wedding is impossibly short. But the team takes it on nonetheless because of a major debt. Gangsters are threatening to do huge damage to Duris if he doesn't pay up very quickly.

Two gaps in the writing: it's not entirely clear why Paridis' father is so keen on destroying this match; and the team's elaborate high-tech methods are impossibly clever and complicated. However none of this is meant to be taken seriously. Much of the fun is in the ingenious tricks the team uses to follow Paradis' movements and give Duris opportunities to seduce her -- an outcome which she stubbornly resists till the very last moment. And then when she gives in, of course, he breaks another of his cardinal rules and falls in love with her; but it's all resolved in a lighthearted fashion.

A fun watch with definite US release potential, and in fact a US release is coming. Seen in Paris in April 2010 and again in a preview in NYC, when it seemed a little longer than it needed to be (there is a lot of repetition). But Duris' deftness as a comic actor, his physicality in the dancing bits, Paridis' charm and elegance, and François Damiens' sympathetic personality hold up and indeed inspire awe and admiration on repeat viewings.

I'm not into French cinema because I don't usually understand the jokes in them, but I went to see Heartbreaker last night for a special preview. I was completely surprised because it charmed me in the first five minutes and from then on it was an almost non-stop laughing, chuckling, cackling audience around me. I loved the storyline and the characters. Alex Lippi is a guy hired to seduce women and break up couples. When he is hired to sort out Juliette (Vanessa Paradis) 10 days before her wedding, he pulls out all the tricks from the hat but she doesn't fall for anything. Interestingly, the thing that it was in French made this movie work much better than a Hollywood version. I thoroughly enjoyed it because it was funny, witty, fresh, minus the clichés and cheap jokes.

I had the chance of attending this film's premiere in Lisbon, that counted with the director's presence. He was pleased that his main goal of entertaining the audience was fulfilled. And that's just it.

Chaumeil hands us a smooth and enjoyable work, perfect for a Sunday afternoon. Nothing more than a funny and cool romantic comedy with subtle slashes of a different action because of the 'breaking relationships' plot, always in a soft touch. I point out the chemistry between the two main actors, one of the film's main qualities, and specially Romain Duris that is becoming an essential actor of french contemporary cinema, commercial as independent.

A 'feel-good' movie destined to amuse the public and that achieves well his mission in a dynamic and pleasuring way - 6/10.

I'm no expert on rom-coms I have to say. I don't mind them particularly you understand but I just don't tend to gravitate towards them. This of course means that my views on Heartbreaker are not from the point-of-view of a connoisseur of this genre. And from this perspective I found it to be a perfectly pleasant way to spend an hour-and-a-half of my time. While the story's trajectory did seem a little predictable, the mixture of the romantic comedy with the 'heartbreaker' team seemed to be coming from a new angle. It allowed the film to mix in some action, gadgets and spy tactics into the romantic formula. And really it works quite well all-in-all.

I found the characters to be likable and amusing. I enjoyed the Monaco scenery. And I was interested enough with the various methods the heartbreaker team employed to pull off their scam. While the film doesn't really explain very well why Vanessa Paradis's father does not want her to marry her fiancé, and her subsequent romance with her bodyguard isn't really very believable, it doesn't ultimately matter very much as the film's tone is playful and a bit silly, so lack of believability isn't exactly a deal-breaker here. Overall, Heartbreaker has most probably been so successful as it's a rom-com that guys and girls can both enjoy.

Yes, it's *another* romantic comedy. And yes, there's nothing very original or groundbreaking here. But once you know what you're getting into, this is a really enjoyable watch with lots of funny moments. Perhaps it's just because the French style makes it feel a little different from the jaded American/British 'rom com' genre. Or perhaps the credit should go to the leads, Romain Duris and Vanessa Paradis, who were both great. Who'd have thought Paradis would pop up in this of all places. The movie for me was let down only by the ending, which was entirely predictable, but I still laughed along all the way! Recommended light viewing.

Brilliant French romantic comedy which punches above its weight. Funny, classy, wry, surprising the audience here and there. Shot on location, we had fun recognizing the spots in Morocco and Monaco, and we also enjoyed the soundtrack and references to George Michael and to "Dirty Dancing".

In the discussion boards, some people complained that "the leading actors have bad teeth"... That's precisely part of this film's charm: the leading actors are not standardized, plastic-like, Ken and Barbie dolls! They look more real with all their natural imperfections. But if you want Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, don't worry: there is bound to be an American remake of this coming soon...! (Probably set in Miami Beach with Queen Latifah and Eddie Murphy in the supporting roles).

This is a very good romantic comedy - probably the best French rom-com since Hors De Prix (Which is my favourite French comedy of the decade) - oodles of fun, high living, and then something unexpected - lots and lots of heart.

We really enjoyed L'arnacoeur, sure it's unrealistic and yes it follows it's genre, but those are two reasons why it's great to watch - it is laugh out loud funny and smarter than it lets on - and the two leads work well together to produce a French comedy with wit, farce, and l'amour.

Compared to most rom-coms (Boy finds girl, loses girl, finds girl again) this is a league above, it's not cutesy, though it is over polished in places, but the plotting is smart, the leads have chemistry, and above all it about finding love and I, for one, give it a massive two thumbs up.

I saw the movie last night and I really loved it. It's funny and smart. Vanessa Paradis and Romain Duris form a very glamorous couple on screen and the supporting roles (Julie Ferrier and François Damiens) are great. The story is about Alex Lippi (Duris) a con man specialized in breaking romances. He is hired by Juliette's father to prevent her from marrying the wrong guy. The things is Alex has only one week to seduce Juliette (Paradis) who doesn't seem to fall for any of his tricks...

If you're looking for a nice chick flick, you should definitely see this one!

And if you liked this movie, I recommend you another French romantic comedy called "Priceless" ("Hors De Prix") with Audrey Tautou which is very good as well.

Picture *** Watched in February 2011 Alex (Roman Duris) gets paid by people to help break up relationships and is very good at it, setting up elaborate situations to woo the woman in question to make her see that she is unhappy with her current partner before leaving. Alex's new mission involves Juliette (Vanessa Paradis) who is about to marry a rich British man and her father just doesn't think her's right for her. With days to go before the wedding Alex heads to Monte Carlo to woo Juliette only to discover she's a bit of a tough cookie, but also a babe. Can he manage to break this relationship up or is he going to actually going to fall for her? This light romantic French comedy is a lot of fun. Duris and Paradis are great together, with Paradis being more cute and teeny tiny than you could imagine; she gets to strut around in some wonderful clothes and the film plays out in a gorgeous looking sun bathed Monte Carlo all of which makes this a wonderful looking film.

The story is a bit silly, but it's quite fun with Alex pretending to like all the things Juliette likes which means he has to sing along to Wham!, eat Roquefort cheese for breakfast and learn the dance moves from Dirty Dancing. These are some of the more funnier moments in the film and whilst the film isn't laugh a minute it is charming and easy pleasing throughout that has that certain French element to it that doesn't translate in American remakes. There are some downsides, such as the arrival of Juliette's old friend who is just annoying and there is little screen time for Andrew Lincoln who plays the soon to be husband. However as a light rom com this does a very good job, even if it does leave you with 'Wake me up before you go-go' in your head.

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It's just too bad that the reviewer for this romantic comedy isn't of the female species. It's also just too bad that this male reviewer isn't half as good looking as the movie's male lead Romain Duris. Of course, it doesn't help that this reviewer isn't exactly a die hard romantic, which is why an impossible premise like that doesn't exactly excite him.

Sure, marketing collaterals also tell him that this movie is a hit at the France box office, but it only means that there's something in most of us (or at least, the French) that wishes for a fairy tale like that to happen in real life.

The movie's protagonist is Alex, who operates a business with his sister and his sister in law to break couples up. The only moralistic part about this business? The woman has to be "unknowingly unhappy" before the charming Alex makes his move. His latest assignment is to break up a rich man's daughter and her British fiancé. How will our suave hero accomplish his task in one week, and when the couple seems to be blissfully in love with each other seven days away from their wedding?

When you are heavily in debt, you better make the impossible possible. Or at least, you can be sure everything will turn out well in a crowd pleasing movie like this.

In 105 minutes, you will be transported to a world where there is little to worry about love, because everything seems to fall nicely into place at the end of the day. It sure helps that the movie moves along at a breezy pace which makes the otherwise predictable plot easy to sit through. It is sprinkled with good natured humour which all romantic comedies are obliged to contain. While the setups aren't anything refreshing, they do make for an enjoyable evening out at the movies with your other half.

Besides, who doesn't enjoy picturesque backdrops with equally beautiful people in the foreground?

Duris (The Beat That My Heart Skipped, Moliere) plays the titular heartbreaker with so much charm and charisma that one can only imagine that if there is really such a person in real life, it would be a sin for any female not to fall in love with him. And as for the female protagonist, Vanessa Paradis (you may want to know her as Johnny Depp's partner – the lucky girl) portrays a girl who is torn about what she really wants in life at the altar. While this personality isn't exactly a breath of fresh air by today's cinema standards, Paradis does a decent job in delivering an empathetic performance which conveys loss and confusion. The supporting cast does a fine job too, from the comedic pairing of Julie Ferrier and Francois Damiens to the menacing Jacques Frantz. There is much chemistry among the cast members, and the movie sparkles because of this.

Being a French production, there is lots you can expect from it. The elegance and style from the French easily gives it a chic feel which you won't find in Hollywood equivalents. But knowing the Americans, they have already bought the US remake rights to produce the Hollywood version, thanks to its phenomenal box office success at home. So who would we be seeing in the role of the deliciously appealing male protagonist? Forgive this bitter reviewer while he goes through his list of "Must Hate Hollywood Heartthrobs".

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Neat title this - L'arnacoeur - invoking the Paul Newman classic The Hustler (L'arnaqueur in France), but the present film in fact resembles the more recent Hors de prix, both in setting and in its narrative arc. A former boxer joins forces with his brother and sister-in-law and together they offer the service of breaking up intended couples who are unhappy, even if they do not know it. When debts force him to use his seductive powers against a woman who is really in love, he finds himself challenged morally as well as professionally. It is all quite preposterous but works rather better, partly because it packs in some great visual gags along the way, partly because there is actually some chemistry between the stars. Also, when interest flags in the central 'will she, won't she?' set-up, the film-makers wisely put in some schtick involving the versatile Ferrier and Damiens. Another commercial success for the lithe and athletic Duris, but is he in danger of being typecast?

HEARTBREAKER ('L'ARNACOEUR') is a delightful bit of French fluff, created as only the French know how. There are 'quotes' from certain films and songs that mix the two main characters together and add to the meringue of the farce. Based on a light story by Laurent Zeitoun, Jeremy Doner, and Yhan Gromb and directed with a fine sense of comic timing by Pascal Chaumeil, this is one of those examples of the farces the French do so well.

Alex Lipp (Romain Duris), his sister Mélanie (Julie Ferrier) and her husband Marc (François Damiens) run a little business: they coordinate efforts to breakup undesired relationships for pay. After a few examples of how the trio works its magic, an assignment takes them to Monaco where they are hired to stop the marriage between Juliette Van Der Becq (Vanessa Paradis) and her wealthy humanitarian fiancé Jonathan Alcott (Andrew Lincoln) - in 10 days time! Alex is avoiding previous client debts represented by a bodyguard Goran (Jean-Marie Paris) but plunges into the formula courtship destruction mode with Juliette; the difference this time is that Juliette seems happily ensconced in the marriage plans and has little time for Alex's plans. But of course through the period of time allotted, Juliette finds qualities in Alex that are missing from her 'perfect' fiancé and Alex breaks his cardinal rule and falls in love with his marked client Juliette. The manner in which the story is resolved is clever and entertaining and heartwarming.

This may not be a great movie but it is a well-acted refreshing little romp to cleanse the palette! In French and English with subtitles. Grady Harp, November 10

I haven't seen Vanessa Paradis in a movie before. She is mesmerising. The movie itself was ok. Duris is fine but not really the right lead for this role. Actually Swayze would have been better ironically.

A fair enough romcom. Monte Carlo is a gorgeous backdrop.

Worth a watch with 🍿

Often I wonder at how much better films made in continental Europe often seem to be than typical English-language movies; of course, part of the explanation may simply be that, as a resident of England, one only tends to see the best of European cinema. And as if to prove the point, here comes 'Hertabreaker', a film whose sole raison d'etre appears to be to demonstrate that the French can make a romantic comedy every bit as drearily predicable as the Americans. All the expected elements are here: the grand wedding, the affluent backdrop, the preposterously constructed plot, the nymphomaniac best friend, the character who falls in love without meaning to, the heavy reliance on a familiar soundtrack, and of course, the eventual, inevitable choice between two very different men. Just as predictable is the absence of any real laughs. Right at the end, I did wonder if the film was going to surprise me with a departure from the normal ending for this kind of rubbish; I won't spoil the plot by stating whether or not it did, but I will say that by this point, I was well past caring either way.

PLOT: there is this agency (3 people working together: the main character, a guy who seduces the women, and his sister and her husband who help out in the background) that you can hire if you want to break up a woman's relationship. A father hires them to prevent his daughter from getting married, and they only have 10 days. They have to accept the job even if it seems impossible because they absolutely need the money.

It was great movie that makes you laugh and leaves you with a smile. The characters were lovable, the story was really funny, the dialogs were entertaining, and you never get bored. I sometimes find the introduction of movies a bit tedious and it takes some time to really dive into the story, but this movie starts off just right, so that's a plus! It's a great french romantic comedy that flirts with some clichés but actually plays really well with them. The only thing that we were left wondering about were the bride's father motivation for hiring someone to ruin his daughter's wedding plans, but it doesn't actually matter in the grand scheme of things.

L'arnacoeur (aka The Heartbreaker) is a romantic comedy about Alex Lippi, whose profession involves breaking up couples. He explains that women in relationships come in 3 categories: 1) happy, 2) knowingly unhappy, and 3) unhappy without admitting it. He only deals with the 3rd category. His tool is seduction. He is actually doing them a service by freeing them from their unhappiness, which is underlined by the dozen women shown thanking him after each success. Alex is accompanied by his sister, Mélanie, and her husband, Marc, who provide support by gathering intel and running interference. They conduct their business with honorable rules – relatively speaking.

However, short on money and in debt to a loan shark, Alex and his team is forced to take their most difficult mission yet – to break up a happy couple. The target is a beautiful, successful wine connoisseur, Juliette Van Der Becq. Her fiancé is a rich bloke from England who feeds the needy with food banks he has put together. He's truly prince charming. Armed only with the knowledge that Juliette likes Wham! and Dirty Dancing and had vanished for 1 year during college, Alex sets his plan into motion. The only obstacle – aside from the loan shark's ogre-sized goon and prince charming – is the love he begins to feel for Juliette.

I don't know if it's because everything is in French, or if it's because I watched this on a 13 hour flight washing my face with Johnny Walker, but L'arnacoeur was surprisingly entertaining. It's like watching a semi-skilled group of spies disarming an emotional time bomb. They fumble their way through it and somehow nail the perfect landing. Alex has this arrogant but potent swagger about him. I love how he's able to embody the spirit of any woman's idle man. It's comically unbelievable and reminiscent of sappy love stories. The whole cast and story has a unrealistic wackiness to it. L'arnacoeur a romantic comedy that doesn't take itself seriously and in doing so it delivers a refreshing change from its American counterparts.

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excerpt, more at my location - Most Hollywood romantic comedies manage to be about as funny as having a tooth pulled with a pair of rusty pliers and as romantic as a Valentine's Day card written by accountants, but French director Pascal Chaumeil's debut feature is a breath of fresh air: stylish, witty, and with a romantic streak that is sweetly endearing, not sickly. Heartbreaker may not rewrite the rom com rulebook, but it's certainly a cut above the norm.

In many ways, Heartbreaker is a thoroughly conventional rom com, and an ideal date movie for the unadventurous, but director Pascal Chaumeil is clearly a new talent who knows how to make something ordinary a little out of the ordinary.

Romain Duris is fantastic, as he always is, but this movie is not. The screenplay, the direction, and all the other actors are so charmless and unfunny that I'd think this was a Hollywood movie if it didn't have subtitles.

The only other thing that's even mildly interesting in Heartbreaker (and further proof that it didn't come from Hollywood) is Vanessa Paradis's wonderfully natural look, with only a little makeup added to what she was born with - small breasts, gapped teeth, and all. How refreshing to see a movie star who isn't driven to "enhance" her natural self with silicone, surgery and fake teeth.

Unfortunately, though, she can't rise above this movie's abysmally stupid screenplay and incompetent direction. Only Romain Duris manages that. After seeing this turkey, I'm more convinced than ever that Duris simply cannot be bad no matter how bad a movie he's in.