Susan Granger’s review of “The Love Punch” (Ketchup Entertainment)
Hampered by a wretched title that has nothing to do with the story, this British romantic caper stars Pierce Brosnan and Emma Thompson as a divorced couple who wreak revenge against the unscrupulous French financier who liquidated their pension fund.
As Richard Jones (Pierce Brosnan) faces retirement, his U.K. investment firm is bought and quickly decimated by Vincent Kruger (Laurent Lafitte), leaving him and the rest of his loyal employees penniless. Accompanied by his ex-wife Kate (Emma Thompson), he confronts the culprit, only to realize he hasn’t a legal leg to stand on. Undaunted and determined to re-gain what they lost – with the help of their tech-savvy son – Richard and Kate concoct a crazy scheme to steal the huge $10 million diamond that Kruger recently bestowed on his young, naively idealistic fiancée Manon (Louise Bourgoin) at a lavish party on the scenic Cote d’Azur. Joining them are their longtime suburban friends, Jerry (Timothy Spall) and Penelope (Celia Imrie), disguised as oil-rich Texans. As this Pink Panther-like endeavor evolves, sparks re-ignite between the divorced couple who discover that life together is more fun than being apart.
Writer/director Joel Hopkins (“Last Chance Harvey”) has not only assembled a top-notch cast but also adds a cameo from Marisa Berenson as an amorous inn proprietor. Although Emma Thompson (“Saving Mr. Banks”) and Pierce Brosnan have never worked together before, their emotional rapport is obvious from the getgo. Always charming Brosnan gamely spoofs his James Bond image, while Celia Imrie (“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”) does a hilarious bit with a carved ice statue. Problem is: the actors outshine their material. Despite its fast pace and contemporary economic relevance, the screwball comedy script requires more punch than just references to “The Italian Job,” “To Catch a Thief,” etc. In other words, somewhere along the French Riviera, Joel Hopkins needed coherent input from an astute collaborator.
On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “The Love Punch” is an adventurously sweet, silly 6, light-hearted, feel-good fun that’s geared to amuse middle-aged audiences.
