Director Caroline Vignal has reunited with Cesar winning Laure Calamy for this dramedy about a woman looking to find herself sexually after she realises how stale her physical relationship has become with her husband; played here by Vincent Elbaz. I went into this film with high hopes, and whilst I enjoyed it, I was a little underwhelmed by the scripting which ultimately let down the brilliant leading lady.
I have really been enjoying Laure Calamy's evolution as an actor in recent years, and her turn as 'Antoinette' in 'My Lover, My Donkey & I' (also known as 'Antoinette in the Cevennes') won her hearts around the world, this character of 'Iris' feels like a bit of a step back. As always likable and relatable as Laure is in her movies (the actor is blessed with a warm, natural air about her), I wonder if she is a little limited range wise, as these morally fluid characters she has played several times now ('Les Cyclades' - aka 'Two Tickets To Greece' last year was another role in that vein), will get a bit thin, if the material is not sharp enough to carry her.
'Full Time' for which Laure was again Cesar nominated was terrific and she displayed a gritty and more serious side; so too 'Annie's Fire', but 'Iris & The Men' suffers from too many tonal shifts; making it hard to connect with our protagonist at times.
There is an inventive use of technology in this movie and some funny ways to convey the journey 'Iris' takes in getting to know herself sexually, but in the end, the conclusion and piece de resistance, feels somewhat contrived and therefore not earned.
But there is a lot to enjoy about Laure here. Her comedic tics and timing are well utilised. I just wish the material had been stronger, sharper and that the tone was a little more consistent. Depending on your own morality, you may like and endorse everything that 'Iris' instigates for herself. For me, I appreciated the journeys that Writer/Director Vignal and star Calamy took in the Cevennes more than the urbane Parisian ones taken here.
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