Crustacés & coquillages (2005) Reviews

• In The Game Of Love, All's Fair In Love And Waves and Seashells...

  cchase2005-06-02

  Now THIS is what summer movies should be! As perfect as the best chocolate soufflé, light and airy on your tongue, with a taste that lingers only as long as it's in your mouth. The best part is that once consumed, you will even respect yourself in the morning. And like all good foreign films, you will suddenly find yourself forgetting that it even has subtitles! Marc (the stunningly handsome Melki) has bought his family to the gorgeous seaside villa of his childhood, inherited from one of his aunts. Understanding and vivacious wife Beatrix (Bruni-Tedeschi), typically rebellious son Charly (Torres) and headstrong daughter Laura (Seyvecou) all find themselves enjoying their sunny sojourn (or not) for various reasons; Laura conveniently takes off for the week with her hunky biker boyfriend; Charly's enjoying "hot showers" just a little too much, especially when his own buddy Martin (Collin) shows up to spend time with the family, (but most especially with Charly, who may or may not be the love of his life--or at least the summer), and Beatrix is perfectly content to make time with her hot hubby, while both are under the influence of "violets," a particular kind of mussel that seems to light an amorous fire under them both. Ah, but what would a French family sex comedy of errors be without a few secrets? Besides the one about Charly and Martin NOT being lovers, (but just try telling his cynical dad that!), there's Beatrix's side man, Mathieu, (Bonnaffe), who must be given credit for a funny and surprisingly sexy performance as the most average-looking 'other guy' I've seen in many moons, and Luc Besson favorite Jean Marc Barr as the studly, horny 'island plumber' Didier, who has more than a vested interest in Marc and his family, adding more comic calamity to the chaos that eventually ensues. To say more would spoil some of the sassy and silly delights that await those looking for something different but not serious, which even includes a couple of musical numbers (!). This was showing at the One In Ten Pride Film Festival in D.C., which was an excellent venue for it. The English title for it is "Cote d'Azure," but by any name, it's still more worth your time than half the American crap that's clogging up multiplexes right this minute. So, quick! Catch this one before they remake it and stick some lameoid graduates from the Disney channel into it...or try to cast Robin Williams as the father (YIKES!)

• Sea Shells & Lavender

  NJMoon2006-02-12

  COTE D'AZUR is a simply charming romantic comedy. A family of four escapes for a summer vacation at a seaside villa and find that romantic adventures are the main excursion. The film's director provides a light, magical tone that allows enchantment and reality to mix effortlessly. The performances are all first rate as well, giving us a realistic family unit without sacrificing individuality. The plot is both original and surprising, taking both the viewer and the characters in unexpected directions. The balance here is superb. Even a detour into musical comedy fits neatly into the fabric of this likable film. Credits roll over a surreal song and dance that will have the viewer wishing they, too, were visiting the COTE D'AZUR.

• Sexuality Lite

  paulcreeden2007-01-29

  Just plain fun. This French semi-farce lends a fresh Mediterranean breeze to the gay film genre. Sexuality issues are discussed with tongue-in-cheek simplicity. Tolerance vs. intolerance. Yet the complexity of human sexual desires is well illustrated in colorful situations and funny plot twists. I believe the French can do a movie like this one well, while Americans would simply fall into a deep trench of camp. Valeria Bruni Tedeschi, who plays the mother of the central family, plays a real character with depth and range of feeling, despite her periodic flights into goofy simplicity. Gilbert Melki, who plays the father, handles his layered character well, with minor camp slippage along the way. American audiences might have some discomfort with age issues in the film, but that has more to do with American ageism and Puritanism than any flaw in this film. Jean-Marc Barr puts in a good performance as the ultimate dream butch daddy, French style. Fun, lite and yet worthwhile. Old Europe still has much to teach Americans about making movies.

• And some say french films are bad!

  cmmescalona2006-09-08

  Poring throughout all IMDb it's quite frequent to find that's what most Hollywood-trained moviegoers think. I hope this film, as many others in the new French cinema will make them change their opinion. Crustacés et Coquillages is one of the wittiest comedies around. The script is absolutely unpredictable, with so many funny notes to every "serious" content, that will keep you laughing to it's completely nuts ending. Shot and played beautifully during summertime in Côte d'Azur, this film puts you in a roller-coaster ride of reality, insanity and very serious affairs without ever being annoying or insulting. The roles are carefully cherry-picked for every character. I wouldn't like to say what many others have already said (telling what the film is about) but to tell you that the meat of this film are the topics of today's real life. Topics that should be encouraged to talk about before things get too complicated with our children. Topics that are simply taken for granted when they shouldn't. As someone else already pointed out, this is a French film with all the possible "frenchness" in it, but, amazingly, taking things on the light side. Finally, I'd suggest to watch closely the film-making process. Its cinematography, too, is very French and, as such, outstanding, without enormous resources. The cast is perfect: they portray exactly what they are and, then, it turns out to be exactly the opposite! Locations and dim-light situations are pushed to the limits, again, strapping resources. All in all a good film that lingers in the back of your mind longer than you'd think... as its music will surely do, too.

• French Fluff Farce Surveys Pansexuality

  gradyharp2006-06-04

  The French have always been able to take issues involving sexuality, fidelity, relationships, and youth and create a healthy fun discussion: Hollywood still has problems even approaching these subjects, much less allowing itself to be lighthearted and universal. 'Crustaces et coquillages' (COTE D'AZUR) is a little French film that addresses these subjects in a manner so light and fun that the viewer wonders what all the puritanical fuss is about! It is summer on the Cote d'Azur and a fun couple Marc (Gilbert Melki) and Béatrix (Valeria Bruni Tedeschi) are vacationing in a wonderful beach house with their teenage kids Charly (Romain Torres) and Laura (Sabrina Seyvecou) where Marc lived as a youth. Laura immediately takes off to Portugal with her biker boyfriend and Charly spends his days with his friend Martin (Edouard Collin), an openly gay teenager who is in love with Charly. Beatrix observes the boys' interactions and decides her son is gay, a fact that doesn't bother her at all but that seems to cause problems for Marc. Béatrix's lover Mathieu arrives on the scene, declaring his desire for Beatrix to leave Marc: Beatrix isn't so sure - she loves Marc and her family, but also wants her summer lover. In a series of hilarious shower sequences Charly pleasures himself, and indeed the entire crew in the house does the same, and Martin's advances to Charly are rebuffed forcing Martin to seek outlet at the beach's notorious fort section. Marc decides to thwart Charly's excessive 'use' of the shower and unplugs the hot water. Charly calls a plumber Didier (Jean-Marc Barr), who just happens to be the hunky ex-lover of Marc, having had a gay affair before Marc married Beatrix. In following each other around, Charly discovers Martin and Didier and then Marc and Didier en flagrant and then walks in on Beatrix and Mathieu: everyone's secret is out! But instead of a disaster, the cast suddenly breaks into a silly showbiz musical number blaming all the infidelities and facets of love on the 'violets' (the aphrodisiac of oysters!). It is a cuckoo ending and would have been a better film without it, but the acting is all so rich and fine and the story is so well told, that this little diversion can be excused. This is a fun fling, with a superb cast having a good time (especially the extraordinarily gifted Valeria Bruni Tedeschi). The story makes us laugh and think - all in a setting that is like a dream vacation! Enjoy and have fun! Grady Harp