AIIW: Romantics Anonymous

Movie stats:

Released 2011 (USA)

French, with English subtitles

Director – Jean-Pierre Ameris

Stars – Benoit Poelvoorde & Isabelle Carre

Plot Summary:

Angelique (Isabelle Carre) is a woman suffering from severe social anxiety disorder. When she takes a job at a chocolatier’s, she meets Jean-Rene (Benoit Poelvoorde), a man who sweats profusely at the mere thought of making a connection with another human being. The two fall in love over their confections, but can two such emotionally stunted people truly work together as a couple?

Bad Stuff:

This is a personal pet peeve. I have a hard time believing stories where people fall in love in a very short amount of time (days) when they know virtually nothing about one another. At best, it doesn’t seem like a very genuine connection to me. In this particular movie, other than a few awkward, stilted conversations, Angelique and Jean-Rene have little contact with one another before they allegedly fall in love. That’s tough for me to swallow.

Also, there is a lot of talk about chocolate. It made me salivate and crave fine chocolates. I suppose that’s not really the movie’s fault.

Good Stuff:

Despite the fact that I was casting a side-eye at all this sudden “love,” I found myself rooting for the romance. I wanted Angelique and Jean-Rene to make it. Both main actors were fantastic. The characters felt very genuine to me. They weren’t overstated. Both of them were just so endearing that it was hard not to fall in love with them myself.

Additionally, I felt that it was a very loving, careful portrayal of social anxiety disorders. It was very straightforward, lacking in melodrama.

The ending was too cute for words.

The Verdict:

Who am I kidding? I’m a huge sap. I loved this movie. Is it a masterpiece? Definitely not. It’s a feel-good movie, perhaps just the right thing for one of those times when you’re feeling down. However, I will warn you that it’s very, very sweet. If you’re not into that sort of thing, don’t bother with this one.

This is another solid 4 stars.