Romantics Anonymous (Review)
NO one should ever underestimate the magical properties of chocolate. They’re the ingredients for a good mood, and an even better movie. Jess Pang indulges.
Directed by Jean-Pierre Ameris, Romantics Anonymous is the tale of two chocolate aficionados who suffer from sociophobia, yet somehow fit awkwardly into each other’s lives.
Angélique Delange (Isabelle Carré) is a gifted chocolate-maker whose treats are legendary around town, but her uncontrollable shyness prevents her from acknowledging her talents. She disguises as the delivery girl for the “chocolate maker”, also known as the mountain hermit.
When Angélique’s employer passes away, she applies to be a sales representative at struggling chocolatier Jean-René Van Den Hudge’s (Benoît Poelvoorde) company. Jean-René suffers from a similar case of awkward bashfulness that gets in his way of doing business, and with his last client hanging by a thread, his chocolate mill faces imminent closure.
Realising she’s attracted to her boss, Angélique decides to anonymously develop a new line of chocolates to save the company.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upKDjLBtU_A[/youtube]
Through brief glances snatched and stolen, it’s entertaining to watch just how the hyper-emotional pair eventually come together despite themselves.
Angélique is also unaware that Jean-René has been taking baby steps to address his emotional malady. Under the instruction of his psychiatrist, Jean-René’s tasks get progressively more challenging, from asking Angélique out to dinner to buying her a gift, and to initiating a kiss on the lips.
Directed by Jean-Pierre Améris, Romantics Anonymous is a well-told story with a good balance of humour and romance. Simple, predictable, yet deliciously intriguing, appealing especially to chocolate lovers who are all too familiar with the divine melt-in-your mouth pleasure of consuming good quality chocolate.
The experience was only spoilt somewhat, by the outré choice of music. Closing a French movie with Australia’s very own Angus & Julia Stone seemed a bit out of place.
Romantics Anonymous is now showing in cinemas around Melbourne.