THE GIRL FROM MONACO (2009)

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"She-Devil"

THE GIRL FROM MONACO is aimed to please. You can't keep your eyes off of this sexy movie. Tempting, voluptuous, and you may try to resist but soon enough Hottie Louise Bourgoin would have you... down at your knees. An entertaining yet profound mix of drama, comedy and bromance. I'm a new fan of writer/director Anne Fantoine

The story is very engaging because anyone could easily do the same mistake. Fontaine has created an unlikely threesome between the three lead characters. There's a hint of a thriller at first, you're thinking somebody is getting played somehow, the comedy is consistent, even when the story takes a dramatic turn. What motivates the characters and the frustration that comes from seeing them collide, all tangled up in a giant mess they could easily avoid in the first place make for a funny material.

Fabrice Luchini, who plays the old, successful lawyer but can't seem to handle women, Bertrand is the most comical out of the three and not because of the usual slapstick, it's because you cant help but chuckle at his longing, his infatuation, that sad but bedazzled look on his face, his state of being hypnotized by the temptress, Audrey, played by Louis Bourgoin who by the way barely has any clothes on. The 'no enter' signs are there, they've always been there but Bertrand always makes excuses to go deeper and deeper in bed with her. Maybe it's the stress or the loneliness that comes with the job, maybe Bertrand doesn't care about Audrey's lies anymore because with her, he feels young and alive. It's as though he's gone numb, a classic case of a rich old man that eventually will be sucked dry by a gold digger.

Bertrand's bodyguard Christophe Abedi, played by Roschdy Zem is a very disciplined individual, he follows protocol and surprisingly enough, he's also a problem solver. At first the relationship between Bertrand and Abedi is only on professional basis, somewhat awkward at times but as Abedi keeps getting Bertrand out of trouble, a certain bond or trust is built. Abedi is the only real friend he's ever got. When handled by Audrey, Bertrand becomes sorta like a little kid, he'd get excited about his sexual encounters and share the story with his friend, his bodyguard Abedi who we think is solid as a rock until we later on find out that he falls for the same mistake.

I like how Fontaine makes us think that Audrey might have something to do with the trial case but instead, what we see is a girl without a decent upbringing, she idolizes and misunderstands the life of Princess Diana. She thinks Bertrand will be her Prince Charles and that breaking hearts or sleeping with other people along the way is as normal as breathing air, something you she can do and deny the next day. Bourgoin plays her character so well, he eyes, her movements, you know she's been playing this seductive game for a while and she's hella good at it.

When Abedi gets himself in trouble, that's when I think the story becomes profound. A friend willing to take the blame for another friend. It's as if Bertrand knows that all of this would not happen if he didn't make the wrong choices and let himself be played the fool, at one point he even accuses Abedi for being the cause of his mess. Abedi has protected him and now it's time to return the favor. Some may argue the story has an unsatisfying ending, but Bertrand staring out into the ocean from the close confinement of his cell and still be able to smile is a sign of a person at peace with the consequence of his action.