ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies

PIERRE SALVADORI’s film is being sold as a French Breakfast At Tiffany’s. That’s stretching it a bit but it is a very glossy, glamorous romantic comedy in which Audrey Tautou has one of her best roles since she first beguiled international audiences in the magical Amelie.

Tautou plays Irene, a shameless golddigger who has a talent for finding sugar daddies and parting them from their ill-gotten gains. She mistakenly assumes that humble hotel bartender Jean (Gad Elmaleh) is another easy target. He is so infatuated with her that he dare not confess the truth.

Pushed beyond bankruptcy, he finds an unexpected solution to his financial woes when rich widow Madeleine (Marie-Christine Adam) assumes that he is a gigolo. What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander and soon Irene is teaching Jean the art of seduction even as he continues to save all his loving for her.

Priceless unfolds in a fairytale world of the South of France where everyone lives in the lap of luxury, the sun always shines and morals are a luxury that few can really afford. If you can swallow a fairly contrived scenario then it has a polish and champagne fizz that does remind you of classic Hollywood comedies.

Cary Grant could stroll into the foyer at any moment, and you almost expect to hear Marlene Dietrich growling her way through a trademark song as the cabaret turn in the bar. On a rainy afternoon it will be just the kind of frothy divertissement to chase away the blues.

Nationwide release

Director: Pierre Salvadori
Cast: Audrey Tautou, Gad Elmaleh, Marie-Christine Adam, Vernon Dobtcheff, Jacques Spiesser
Screenwriters: Pierre Salvadori, Benoit Graffin
Certificate: 12A
Running time: 106 mins
Country: France
Year: 2006