I DO (PRETE-MOI TA MAIN)

Directed by Eric Lartigau Written by several writers from an idea by actor Alain Chabat Starring: Alain Chabat, Charlotte Gainsbourg Distributed in the U.K. by Optimum Home EntertainmentDVD is released in the U.K. on Feb 25th 2008, retailed at Play.com at £10.99Review by Michael Edwards

rating: 3

A charming French comedy from French director Eric Lartigau, I DO is a perfectly palatable jaunt with more than its fair share share of stock stereotype gags and light-hearted Gallic banter. The plot is a simple one, 43 year-old perfume maker Luis (Alain Chabat) is hen-pecked by his family. He just wants to get on with laid back lifestyle, cushy job and busy love-life, but they have decided that it's time for him to get married. In a desperate bid to ward off their meddling he hires his friend's younger sister Emmanuelle (Charlotte Gainsbourg) to pose as his fiancee and subsequently jilt him at the alter - leaving him free of his interfering family as he overcomes his depression. It's a standard rom-com template and the predictable romance buds between the two characters as the plot precedes o its inevitable sugary finale. But none of this stops the film from being thoroughly entertaining. From the nouvelle vague reminiscent introduction, the film barrages us with stereotypes deployed in the simplest way, but no sooner does it do so than it spins them on their head and mocks them from behind. It starts with Luis playing the put-upon, coddled and generally smothered son in a family of daughters, he lunges for freedom and mocks their desire to control. He is swifly put down himself, however, when he meets Emmanuelle and, mistaking her for a date set up by his sisters, launches into a monologue about how he isn't interested in relationships - only the sex. He repeatedly emphasised response of "No, you really looked dumb" is enough to put him (and those in the audience who had empathised with him) in their places. Through its quickfire pace I DO refuses to let you hate it for any of its foibles, instead it uses this rapid rhythm and sudden temporal jumps to expertly break up its otherwise formulaic progression and draw you into its light-hearted play on the idiosyncrasies of family and relationships in postmodern life. One great example comes when Luis outlines his zany plan to his friend for the first time. Incredulous at the idea, his friend asks "Can't you just say 'I don't want to get married?" to which Luis retorts "Can't you just pay for coffee once in a while?" Breezy as a summers day at the beach! In the 'making of' extra feature, director Eric Lartigau calls the movie "A comedy of manners where you really get to know the characters". I'd disagree with this, I think that it has ended up as something else. The essence of the characters comes from the energy and chemistry of the cast, and from the attention to detail that crops up in the set-pieces. Charlotte Gainsbourg professes that she "had lots of fun on this film shoot, that's all" and it really shines through. I DO has the potential for universal appeal, its accessible and witty dialogue merge delightfully with the bubbly rhythmic pace of the plot and the archetypal French cinematography. Perfect fodder for a couple's lazy night in on the sofa. The DVD extras are a standard affair, a making of documentary, a tv spot, deleted scenes and bloopers. The bloopers are compiled with a professional sheen and are probably worth 5 minutes of anyone's time, and the making of has a few nice insights into the working of the film and the chemistry of the cast. I DO (PRETE-MOI TA MAIN) is out on DVD in the UK on 25th of February.