Film No. 24 (2014) April 7rd. 6:30 PM PARADISO Northbridge.
Chinese Puzzle (French)
This is my forth French film in a month and my disappointment continues. Chinese Puzzle is a polished, well made film which takes us into the world of a Gen Y male, Xavier, whose complicated life would cause any warm blooded person a "truck load" of stress.
We are asked the question, however; are Xavier's decisions made from the heart or because his publisher continues to press him for life with complication. Xavier is writing a book (Chinese Puzzle), an ongoing manuscript whereby publication will depend on the spice our hero can maintain in his life. A puzzle indeed.
My problem with the film lies with Xavier, or more specifically, Romain Duris. In the same way Hugh Grant was the spark which ignited Four Weddings, Puzzle needed that same "boost", a "boost" Duris could not deliver. Each character is so likable that our hero needed to stand out from "the pack".
Audrey Tatou is extremely likeable, for the same reasons she is loved in most roles she plays. She quietly blends into the film adding to Xavier's complicated life and then assisting him to "settle". Audrey is the best thing in this puzzle of a film. 5GUMS
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