THE LOVE PUNCH
UK, 2014, 94 minutes, Colour.
Emma Thompson, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Spall, Celia Imrie, Louise Burgoin, Laurent Lafitte, Marisa Berenson, Tuppence Middleton, Jack Wilkinson.
Directed by Joel Hopkins.
If a light film caper, featuring Pierce Brosnan looking dapper, even if older, and Emma Thompson, bright and breezy as usual, with a Riviera setting, then this is your film.
There is also amusing and entertaining support from Timothy Spall and Celia Imrie, who let themselves become involved in the caper, the bringing down of an obnoxious Frenchman who has absconded with funds.
This is not meant to be a profound film, just something of a soufflé entertainment.
It was written and directed by Joel Hopkins, who has made only three feature films, Jump Tomorrow about an inter-racial romance, and Last Chance Harvey, a comedy, again with Emma Thompson, joining with Dustin Hoffman.
1. A caper, romantic comedy, the world of finance? How real – contrived?
2. Surrey, the suburbs, the streets? The artificial golf course? London and business? Streets and offices? Paris, the office, the hotel, the landmarks? the Riviera? The Carlton hotel? The shadow? The cliff? The exotic touch? The musical score and songs? Especially during particular action, in the caper, the humorous connection with the lyrics?
3. Kate and Richard, their marriage, too young, his infidelity, the children, the separation, his women, her friends – and the local suitor? Pen and Jerry and their matchmaking?
4. Kate, Emma Thompson and her presence, delivery, comic touches? Pierce Brosnan, the old Bond persona, laid back? Jerry, friendly, the past stories and invention, pen and her amazement at not knowing them? Her excitement?
5. Richard going to work, the woman walking out on him? Meeting Doreen, the list, arrival, amazement at the takeover, the bankruptcy? His going to see Kate, wondering what to do, the stupid idea of the robbery, but brilliant?
6. The news item about the auction and the jewel? Going to Paris, Kate and her collapsing routine, the boss, his bland and amoral comments, legal and illegal? Their being ousted? Seeing the fiance, the car, following, the comic driving in Paris? The decision to go to Cannes for the wedding? Contacting Jerry and Pen, the arrival?
7. Cannes, going to the party, Kate playing volleyball, the waterskiing, falling into the water? The conversations with Manual, her listening?
8. The plan, for the robbery, the execution? The son and his hacking the computers, getting information? The Texans, arriving, tying them up while disguised as staff?
9. The plan, the climbing, looking like Texans in heavy make-up, missing the couple? Society, going upstairs, on the balcony, Richard and dizzy, slipping? so many flats, past indications of Kate’s? The girlfriend, the explanations, the decision to help, discussions, the plans? Giving her the jewel? Downstairs, passing the diamond? The real Texans, hotel, released, going to the party? Security? Kate and Richard and, the alcoholic security? Into the cliff? saving them? Jerry swallowing the diamond? Recovering it?
10. Kate, her friend, the boat, the night, the realisation of love for Richard?
11. The window, Kate, all well, the recovery of the diamond, the contact? The money transferred into the accounts of the people in the company? motivation for the robbery?
12. The daughter, Edinburgh, Kate? The phone calls? Matt, effective – and his slovenly roommate being seen on Skype?
13. Happy ending, pitting bridges on the boat,? Ex to non-Ex?
