I'm All Right, Jack meets Nine to Five in this macaron-light French comedy, which springs from dated material - a wildly popular play written in the 80s and set in the 70s - but reshapes it with an ironic modern eye. The result is not without charm if you like your Gallic whimsy straight up, although it does go on a bit.
Ozon, whose sometimes overwrought oeuvre is nothing if not diverse in tone, helms a farce about a workplace battle of the sexes in which the great Deneuve stars in the title role: the French word for a pretty but uselessly tiny vase, is applied to a rich wife whose job is to look pretty - "trophy wife" doesn't quite get it, but it comes close.
As Suzanne Pujol, she is married to Robert (veteran farceur Luchini), who incompetently runs an umbrella factory (started by his father-in-law) while sleeping with his secretary and complaining to everyone about how hard his life is. When industrial action escalates to the point that Robert is taken hostage, Suzanne steps into the breach and turns out to have the right stuff that Robert lacks. Making matters more complicated is Maurice Babin (Depardieu), the town's
firebrand communist mayor, who is one of Suzanne's old flames.
Ozon adds a third act which was inspired by socialist candidate Segolene Royal's unsuccessful campaign for the presidency and as a result the film outstays its welcome by a few minutes. But it is a frothy and enjoyable entertainment.
Stars: 3/5
Cast: Catherine Deneuve, Gerard Depardieu, Fabrice Luchini
Director: Francois Ozon
Running time: 102 mins
Rating: M (sex scenes) In French with English subtitle
Verdict: Frothy fun
- TimeOut
Movie review: Potiche
Gerard Depardieu and Catherine Deneuve in 'Potiche'. Photo / Supplied
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