by Annette Basile
Worth: $15.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
John Malkovich, Fanny Ardant, Émilie Dequenne, Eugénie Anselin, Philippe Bas
Intro:
… this undemanding film is easy to fall into and simply enjoy.
It’s a familiar blueprint: a concocted and unlikely situation mixed with idiosyncratic characters in a tale designed to tug at the heartstrings. It might be a formulaic feel-good flick, but with its witty script and terrific cast, it works – and beautifully.
John Malkovich is Andrew Blake, a British businessman grieving the recent loss of his French wife. He decides to return to the site where they first met – a castle in France that’s set on a gorgeously green estate. Blake thinks it’s a B&B (it isn’t, although it wants to be) but he’s mistaken for someone responding to a job ad. Wanting to stay and soak in the memories of his late wife, he winds up pretending to be a butler, waiting on Nathalie Beauvillier (Fanny Ardant) and gets involved in the lives of the estate’s staff.
Nathalie, who is struggling with finances and worried about losing the estate, is also grieving. While grief is a theme, this is also about friendship and is much more of a comedy than a drama. Its comic moments range from the gently amusing to genuinely hilarious, and its few dramatic moments lack punch.
Speaking fluent French, Malkovich (now, incredibly, a septuagenarian) is as impressive as ever, whether he’s subtly conveying his character’s grief or displaying perfect comic timing. Meanwhile, Ardant, also in her 70s, and looking stunningly natural, intrigues as Nathalie.
This is more or less an ensemble film, and the rest of the cast put in solid performances, with Philippe Bas especially entertaining as the socially awkward groundsman. Cat lovers will also enjoy the presence of Mephisto (played splendidly by Nouchka, a Persian), who is more than a just token animal and part of the ensemble.
Directed by Gilles Legardinier, based on his own novel, Mr Blake, At Your Service! (Complètement Cramé!) lacks energy at times, but with its beautiful setting and humour that hits the mark every time, this undemanding film is easy to fall into and simply enjoy.
