Le Divorce/Down With Love

Rating:
Summary: Down with le Divorce
Review: Light and frothy is the game in this two-pack, containing "Le Divorce" and "Down With Love." Neither movie is very deep or innovative, and one of them is more a satire on French ethics than a comedy. However, they are both prettily filmed and moderately entertaining, with some excellent acting from all concerned.

In "Down with Love," role-model feminist Barbara Novak (Renee Zellweger) has written a groundbreaking book for women: She advocates "a la carte sex," and a focus on business rather than romance, which will give women new power in the world. It becomes an international bestseller. But after Novak gets revenge on womanizing man-about-town Catcher Block (Ewan McGregor), he decides to worm his way into her affections by pretending to be a naive astronaut...

As "Le Divorce" opens, hippie-esque Isabel Walker (Kate Hudson) is coming to Paris to look after her pregnant sister Roxy (Naomi Watts). But Isabel walks into the building just as her brother-in-law Charles-Henri (Melvil Poupaud) walks out -- for good. As the two wrangle over the custody of priceless art and their two kids (one still unborn), Isabel slips into a fling with Charles-Henri's sexy middle-aged uncle Edgar (Thierry Lhermitte), while working for one of his former flings (Glenn Close).

What do these two movies have in common? Besides blondes, that is. Well, they're both very pretty. "Down with Love" shines with bright retro colors and over-the-top styles, reminiscent of those 1960s comedies that celebrated color. And "Le Divorce" sparkles with "the city of light," beautiful architecture and beauty of all sorts.

The biggest difference between the two is that "Down with Love" is a homage comedy, harkening back to those Doris Day comedies of the 60s. It's also a romance. "Le Divorce" is more cynical about love and romance, recognizing that often they don't last, and taking a sharp look at the different morals and beliefs of different cultures.

Ewan McGregor and Renee Zellweger have excellent chemistry as the fiery feminist and the disrespecting charmer, both of whom need a few lessons. Kate Hudson doesn't get to do much except be perky in "Le Divorce," but her costar Naomi Watts is exquisite as the pregnant, wronged wife. Her restrained tears and quiet grief are more eloquent than any scripted lines.

Viewers who enjoy color and light will undoubtedly enjoy the two-pack of "Le Divorce" and "Down With Love." As for those looking for fluffy romance and minor social satire, this also works.