HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE ME?
*** out of *****
Reviewed by Finger_Of_DOOM

Screening in the 2006 New Zealand International Film Festival
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Genres
Comedy
Drama
Romance

2005
Written and directed by
Bertrand Blier
Cast
Monica Bellucci .... Daniela
Bernard Campan .... François
Gérard Depardieu .... Charly
Jean-Pierre Darroussin .... André Migot
Edouard Baer .... L'homme bouleversé
Farida Rahouadj .... La voisine
Sara Forestier .... Muguet
Michel Vuillermoz .... Le toubib
François Rollin .... Michael

I hadn’t seen much French comedy, although it’s not from lack of trying. I don’t usually see a lot of it playing on New Zealand screens, and whenever French comedies are it’s usually within the Film Festival. But what better time to check out something new or outside your usual viewing habits of blockbuster films or the more hugely successful foreign films? I chose this film out of sheer curiosity and the promise of Monica Bellucci. Let’s be honest here, why pass up an opportunity to see one of the screen’s most beautiful women?

How Much Do You Love Me? tells the story of François (Bernard Campan), a down-and-out office worker who has won the lottery. He decides to spend his money by asking the most beautiful prostitute (Monica Bellucci) he can find to live with him until his money has run out. He ends up falling in love with her, and in the process she falls for him too. However, her mobster boyfriend (Gérard Depardieu) has something to say about that. It’s not hard to see why director Bertrand Blier cast Bellucci as the prostitute, he even comments on her intense hotness in one of the funnier scenes in the film; a doctor finds her so incredibly hot that he keels over and dies.

The first quarter of this film was rather enjoyable, it felt very much like a sophisticated comedy for adults; but it then resorted to some really over-the-top acting moments accompanied by brash orchestral music reminiscent of comedies seen in the 1950s. I’m not entirely convinced that this style can be successfully mixed with drama, as prevalent in the film’s other scenes. It certainly didn’t feel schizophrenic, more oddly out of place than anything else.

Easily identifiable, interesting and relatable characters are immensely important in comedies, at least to me anyway. Well written characters can have comedic moments built around their personalities and traits, which lends to often funnier and naturally occurring scenes and scenarios. The majority of unfunny scenes in films are always the stilted or seemingly forced comedic moments, especially ones that rely on one stupid gag drawn out much longer than it really needs to. How Much Do You Love Me? manages to avoid this, the comedy is naturally occurring and is almost always inspired by the character and their personality. I’m sure many people can relate to François, it’s just a shame that this character isn’t all that interesting to begin with, and the resulting comedy often falls flat.

Despite this there were elements of the film that I enjoyed. Gérard Depardieu, for one, was probably the most interesting character in the film, he plays the pimp/mobster/husband to Bellucci. Depardieu plays the lovable villain quite well, but for all his love he has towards his girl he easily lets her go. I certainly didn’t expect that; Blier obviously decided to go in a different and all together unconventional direction, which is refreshing, but would have paid off far better had I believed Depardieu’s character would be the type to simply let her go.

Additionally, François Catonné’s visceral photography lends a hauntingly erotic feel that suits the tone of the film, combined with the sexy jazz-inspired score (along with some music by classical favorites Bellini, Puccini and Verdi) create the refreshing voice of this film.

I probably would have liked this film a whole more had these characters not been so run-of-the-mill boring, after all this is a sex comedy with Monica Bellucci! What could possibly be so bad about that? Well, to my surprise it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting and even the promise of a naked Bellucci couldn’t save this film from being as average as it was.

This film will screen in Wellington on August the 2nd at 1:15pm and August the 5th at 6:00pm at the Embassy Theatre and August the 6th at 7:15pm at the Penthouse Cinema. Refer to the Film Fest homepage for more information.

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