But originality isn’t what made “Heartbreaker” a hit overseas and what will likely please the smaller American audience daring enough to endure subtitles. Au contraire, writer/director Pascal Chaumeil’s whimsical comedy is completely formulaic, but it’s also silly good fun, effortlessly trotting along at a brisk pace from start to finish. Thanks in large part to its likable star, “Heartbreaker” proves there’s nothing wrong with formula as long as you have all the other components soundly in place.
Duris stars as Alex, a con-man with a heart of gold who uses his numerous skills not to rob banks, but to steal hearts. With his sister Mélanie (Julie Ferrier) and her husband Marc (François Damiens), on his team, he gets paid by concerned family and friends to break up unhappy couples. He romances women away from their unsuitable matches and gently lets them down so they can fall for another man. He’s a pro who uses elaborate ruses, costumes and technology to make sure that he always gets, and then promptly loses the girl.
When Juliette’s father (Jacques Frantz) approaches him, Alex is desperate to pay off debts he owes, so he reluctantly overlooks his rule about only breaking up couples who would be better off apart. Juliette can’t wait to marry her British fiancé Jonathan (Andrew Lincoln, soon to be seen in AMC’s “The Walking Dead”), which makes Alex’s job that much harder. Further complicating matters are inevitable: professional seducer Alex finds himself falling for Juliette as he works his usual tricks — and then some — to win her heart.
The aims of “Heartbreaker” are far purer than its hero; rather than trying to be a serious love story with thought-provoking themes, this lighthearted romantic comedy only wants to charm and beguile its audience, but isn’t afraid to (literally) break out in a song and dance to do it. Chaumeil sets himself apart with a whimsical approach reminiscent of classics like Billy Wilder’s “Sabrina” or Howard Hawks’ “His Girl Friday.” The standard rom-com desperately tries to sell you on the blissful union of the romantically entangled; their joining sure to bring meaning to the universe. But the fun of “Heartbreakers” is more about getting there, resisting temptations to bog itself down in the usual lovey-dovey over-sentimentality. You know what’s going to happen in the end, so what’s the point if you don’t enjoy the ride?
Duris (who we interviewed for the film) is a natural charmer who has adapted to comedy with ease. As the star of the show, he proves up to the challenge, exceeding expectations at almost every turn. He’s witty without seeming smarmy (tricky for a French guy) and he’s adept at looking both debonair and daffy. Proving himself to be a jack of all trades, Duris is equally competent in action, love scenes and even the occasional pratfall.
Comic relief characters in the romantic comedy genre have become as clichéd as the zany high concept plots. Ferrier and Damiens offer a blueprint for how it should be done as the high tech, costume-switching aids to Alex’s seduction business. Their comedy never feels forced and even arguably usurps the focal romance. It’s not hard to imagine the story of Mélanie and Marc in a vehicle all their own.
If there is a one area where “Heartbreaker” is lacking, it’s in Duris’ female co-star, Vanessa Paradis, as Juliette. Paradis is striking, no doubt, but neither her acting chops nor her comedic skills are a match for Duris. Her performance feels strained as she struggles to keep pace. The result is a slightly uneven ending, if only for the fact that you (or at least we) don’t really care greatly about their union. Still, it’s gotta get where it’s supposed to go and even with the chemistry lacking, everything that came beforehand makes it work.
“Heartbreaker” is that rare romantic comedy that can be enjoyed by both sexes. Even the toughest guy will have a hard time resisting a covert snicker here and there at Alex’s relentless efforts to seduce Juliette, not to mention the comical pairing of the story’s true soul mates, Mélanie and Marc. It doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it is proof that there’s something to be said for formula done right. Perhaps Chaumeil can breathe new life into an American romantic comedy one of these days. – Jeff Otto & Kimber Myers
