Film Review Heartbreaker (L’arnacoeur)

France 2010. Cert: 15. 105 mins. Dir: Pascal Chaumeil. Cast: Vanessa Paradis, Romain Duris, Andrew Lincoln

You are in: Film » Film Review »Heartbreaker (L’arnacoeur)

Film Review: Heartbreaker (L’arnacoeur)

Hired by disgruntled friends or relatives, lothario Alex (Duris) makes a living breaking up relationships. Using ridiculously high-tech gizmos, his team research their target (find out her favourite cheese, that sort of thing) allowing Alex to sweep her off her feet with the aid of a sunset or a dove (depending on her preferences). A win-win situation: the girls get an ego-boost and decide to chuck Mr Wrong and Alex walks away with his bounty. Piece of cake.

So is there much of a demand for a professional heartbreaker? Evidently not, as despite the front of lavish stunts and endless costume changes, we see that the lovable trio of swindlers have fallen on hard times and are struggling to make ends meet.

Fortunately, their luck seems set to change, when a wealthy (but apparently motiveless) businessman offers them 50 grand to break up his feisty daughter Juliette (Paradis) and her charming English fiancé Jonathon (Lincoln).

However, their latest mission proves to be somewhat challenging as Juliette appears to be immune to Alex’s usual wiles, whilst all-round good egg Jonathon turns out to be flawless.

Predictably, the heartbreaker becomes the ‘heartbreakee’ as Alex begins to fall for Juliette, leading him to suddenly question his morals: can he keep deceiving her? Is it wrong to break up her engagement? Would she be happier with Jonathon after all?

Given the stunning Monte Carlo backdrop and the beautiful main characters, Chaumeil’s directorial debut is reminiscent of one of those effortlessly cool Stella 4% adverts. Sure, it’s a little far-fetched, and at times a bit clichéd, but as rom-coms go, it’s well worth a watch.

Heartbreaker, 16-22 July, Hyde Park Picture House

Posted on Tuesday 29th June 2010
Rachel Naylor

Hyde Park Picture House

Brudenell Road, Hyde Park, Leeds, LS6 1JD

You are in: Film » Film Review »Heartbreaker (L’arnacoeur)