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French Kiss

French Kiss hearkens back to the golden days of romantic comedies, when Meg Ryan was the queen and the many formulas within the genre hadn’t lost their charm with overuse. Nowadays, they pump them out like Model-T Fords, but in the previous era (yes, it was an era), a romantic comedy might actually be worth going to see.

First off, the script took actual brainpower and artistry to create. Perhaps it’s because the screenwriter, Albert Brooks, is a writer with integrity rather than a factory worker within the movie-making machine. His characters have deep, nuanced personality. The dialogue is witty, downright hilarious in most instances. And because Brooks has written films beyond simply generic rom-coms, he brings a higher quality rarely seen in the genre nowadays.

Secondly, it is the epitome of what I call the “Love at First Hate” formula. Boy meets girl; girl hates boy; boy grows on girl in time; boy and girl find love. It’s my favorite and perhaps the most used formula, because it gives actors the chance to play a love scene and a dramatic fight scene. But while most “L@FH” films switch instantly from “love” to “hate” midway through the film, French Kiss transitions gradually, actually earning the “love” it arrives at by the end. Neither the love nor the hate is superficial, and that makes the entire film more believable.

Lastly, Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline are brilliant. Their chemistry is unmistakable, and each is an equal partner in their pairing. Their fights are scathing and yet they both remain sympathetic; their love scenes are subtle, yet moving. And both of their comedic timing is absolutely perfect.

All in all, if you claim to like rom-coms at all, you should already own this movie, and it’s a marvelous addition to any collection.

Written by: Katherine E. Webb

Reviewers Rating: 9.5
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