Film opens at a party. A woman, played by Emma Thompson, goes to the bar for a drink. She is joined by a man, played by Pierce Brosnan, who tries to chat her up. We quickly realize that they already know each other. They were married, and are now divorced. After this scene-setting first act, we get the seventies-style opening titles. Both graphics and music are spot on.
Our divorced couple are of mature years. Mr Brosnan's character is suave and sophisticated. He has been somewhat of a ladies-man but is now slowing down. He is in fact facing retirement and the chance to practise his golf-swing. However a problem arises. Just as in the 2012 film 'Papadopoulos & Sons', a financial crisis wipes out the business successfully built up over a life-time. This is of course merely the McGuffin that takes our story from its very authentically set middle-class British location, and off to France.
Not an economic slump, but rather financial skullduggery, is the cause of the change in fortunes. Laurent Lafitte, effortlessly playing the cardboard villain required in this paper-thin plot, is the nasty Paris- based businessman who needs to be confronted. A car-chase is the occasion for the second great rock-track of the film.
A plan is hatched that requires a change of scene to southern France. Thus we are in the same setting as the 1988 comedy-con-film 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels', though without the frenetic exuberance of that film. So we have a plan, and a con, in what seems like a crime-caper. However this film seems much more like a french-farce. Lots of bedroom scenes, including lots of hiding ensue. We even have a very tasteful nude-scene with the lovely Miss Thompson. Though 'No sex please, we're British' can be implied by the 12A certificate.
Tuppence Middleton had a small supporting role in the recent 'A Long Way Down', a film in which Mr Brosnan also appeared. Here Miss Middleton is given a more dramatic role, she plays a bit of eye-candy who also has a small action scene, all the while also having to use an engaging french- accent.
Miss Thompson, who last year demonstrated her acting-skills in her magic role in 'Beautiful Creatures', here has less to stretch her in this romantic bit of fluff. However although her role was not overly demanding, she did convince in her role. She plays well a rather poignant scene when she loses her daughter.
In 'A Long Way Down', Mr Brosnan adopted a sort of Bob Hoskins-lite accent, that this reviewer feels was adopted to portray a working-class journalist type of character. Here though he is virtually accentless. The voice is rich, middle-class, Home Counties, but also with a hint of an Irish lilt. Perfectly suited to his role as successful businessman.
Two ordinary friends and neighbours are played well by Timothy Spall and Celia Imrie. They complement the others. It may be a french-farce but these actors, who were all either born, or grew up, in London, or southern England, play their roles authentically.
Authentic too is the location-shooting, especially of the middle-class suburbs of London. These would seem more familiar to a larger number of viewers than the more upper-class settings of Richard Curtis. Writer/Director Joel Hopkins has given us a nice mix of action and romance. There is an iconic 'Reservoir Dogs'-like slo-mo scene. Mr Hopkins shows off Miss Thompson's beauty, whilst also showing her bedraggled in comic scenes too. Good work all in all!, though personally I felt the beach scene was too long. The writing too is good. Of course the plot is paper-thin, but it serves the purpose it is required to do.
Perhaps the worst part of this film is its title. Like 'Welcome to the Punch' of last year, this film too has a similarly bland and unmemorable title.
The recent 'A New York's Winter's Tale' was entertaining but preposterous nonsense suitable for young lovers and romantics. This film too requires a similar total suspension of disbelief in the action scenes and the plot. However, like 'ANYWT', 'The Love Punch' can be also viewed as a bit of fairy-story, though one more suitable to a more mature audience. Totally unbelievable and unrealistic, this rom-com however does serve as a pleasant way to pass the time.
Oh la la! 8/10.
Our divorced couple are of mature years. Mr Brosnan's character is suave and sophisticated. He has been somewhat of a ladies-man but is now slowing down. He is in fact facing retirement and the chance to practise his golf-swing. However a problem arises. Just as in the 2012 film 'Papadopoulos & Sons', a financial crisis wipes out the business successfully built up over a life-time. This is of course merely the McGuffin that takes our story from its very authentically set middle-class British location, and off to France.
Not an economic slump, but rather financial skullduggery, is the cause of the change in fortunes. Laurent Lafitte, effortlessly playing the cardboard villain required in this paper-thin plot, is the nasty Paris- based businessman who needs to be confronted. A car-chase is the occasion for the second great rock-track of the film.
A plan is hatched that requires a change of scene to southern France. Thus we are in the same setting as the 1988 comedy-con-film 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels', though without the frenetic exuberance of that film. So we have a plan, and a con, in what seems like a crime-caper. However this film seems much more like a french-farce. Lots of bedroom scenes, including lots of hiding ensue. We even have a very tasteful nude-scene with the lovely Miss Thompson. Though 'No sex please, we're British' can be implied by the 12A certificate.
Tuppence Middleton had a small supporting role in the recent 'A Long Way Down', a film in which Mr Brosnan also appeared. Here Miss Middleton is given a more dramatic role, she plays a bit of eye-candy who also has a small action scene, all the while also having to use an engaging french- accent.
Miss Thompson, who last year demonstrated her acting-skills in her magic role in 'Beautiful Creatures', here has less to stretch her in this romantic bit of fluff. However although her role was not overly demanding, she did convince in her role. She plays well a rather poignant scene when she loses her daughter.
In 'A Long Way Down', Mr Brosnan adopted a sort of Bob Hoskins-lite accent, that this reviewer feels was adopted to portray a working-class journalist type of character. Here though he is virtually accentless. The voice is rich, middle-class, Home Counties, but also with a hint of an Irish lilt. Perfectly suited to his role as successful businessman.
Two ordinary friends and neighbours are played well by Timothy Spall and Celia Imrie. They complement the others. It may be a french-farce but these actors, who were all either born, or grew up, in London, or southern England, play their roles authentically.
Authentic too is the location-shooting, especially of the middle-class suburbs of London. These would seem more familiar to a larger number of viewers than the more upper-class settings of Richard Curtis. Writer/Director Joel Hopkins has given us a nice mix of action and romance. There is an iconic 'Reservoir Dogs'-like slo-mo scene. Mr Hopkins shows off Miss Thompson's beauty, whilst also showing her bedraggled in comic scenes too. Good work all in all!, though personally I felt the beach scene was too long. The writing too is good. Of course the plot is paper-thin, but it serves the purpose it is required to do.
Perhaps the worst part of this film is its title. Like 'Welcome to the Punch' of last year, this film too has a similarly bland and unmemorable title.
The recent 'A New York's Winter's Tale' was entertaining but preposterous nonsense suitable for young lovers and romantics. This film too requires a similar total suspension of disbelief in the action scenes and the plot. However, like 'ANYWT', 'The Love Punch' can be also viewed as a bit of fairy-story, though one more suitable to a more mature audience. Totally unbelievable and unrealistic, this rom-com however does serve as a pleasant way to pass the time.
Oh la la! 8/10.