By: Shannon Page
While on a spa retreat in the countryside with her best friend (Karin Viard), Violette (Julie Delpy, who also directs) meets geeky computer engineer Jean-René (Danny Boon). Their romance gets rocky when Violette brings Jean-René into her sophisticated life in Paris and introduces him to her nineteen year old son, Lolo (Vincent Lacoste). An unhappy Lolo attempts to sabotage his mother’s new relationship.
The script – which was co-written by Delpy and Eugénie Grandval – contains a few genuine chuckle-worthy scraps of dialogue, but despite starting out strong, Lolo can’t seem to hold itself together and ends up descending into chaos.
The explanation that the film gives for Lolo’s intense dislike of Jean-René – a good, old fashioned Oedipus Complex – while clearly not intended to be believable, still ends up feeling rather uninspired. It’s a shame Lacoste didn’t get a bit more to work with considering how this promising actor brings charisma and energy to this conspiring role. The on-screen chemistry between Delpy and Boon redeem Lolo somewhat, but not enough to redeem the disjointed plot and bizarre antics.
Julie Delpy’s Lolo isn’t awful, but audiences aren’t missing much if they choose to pass on it.
**********
Lolo screens at TIFF on:
Friday, September 18 at 6:30 p.m. @ Roy Thomson Hall
Saturday, September 19 at 12:30 p.m. @ Isabel Bader
Sunday, September 20 at 9:15 a.m. @ Scotiabank Theatre
Rating: 14A
Language: French
Runtime: 99 minutes
Realted Links:
She Stoops to Conquer Review and Interview with Zack Russell
For more information on the festival, visit the official TIFF webpage here.
Buy tickets here.
Do You Tweet? Follow These Tweeple:
TIFF: @TIFF_NET
Shannon Page: @ShannonEvePage
Leave a comment