TIFF15 Review // Lolo

Julie Delpy (Before Midnight) writes, directs and stars in Lolo, a quirky comedy about a middle-aged professional who falls for a computer programmer, much to the chagrin of her over-attached son. Violette (Delpy) is a snobbish Parisienne who works in the fashion industry, however while on a provincial holiday with her best friend Ariane (Karin Viard) the dopey, yet endearing Jean-Rene (Dany Boon) drops a tuna in her lap and the pair hit it off. When Jean-Rene moves to Paris on business the pair get serious, and Jean-Rene runs head-on into Violette’s enfant terrible Lolo (Vincent Lacoste). The bratty young artist begins a campaign to take down Jean-Rene, including the usual itching powder, bad fashion advice, and career-threatening criminal actions. It’s all been done before, and the broad comedy regularly comes off flat. Things are partially salvaged by the great chemistry between Delpy and Boon, as well as the delightfully dirty exchanges between Violette and Ariane, however for every honest-seeming moment there are at least two over-done gags involving the borderline-sociopathic Lolo. Call me old fashioned, but I just can’t enjoy a movie when all I’m thinking about is walking down to the screen and punching the title character in the face.

Capsule review, Evan Arppe