At The Movies: Iris And The Men

After the smash-hit international success of Antoinette in The Cévennes, writer/director Caroline Vignal and the charming Laure Calamy reunite for Iris and the Men, a comedy about reignited desire in the modern age.

“They’re not”. This is how Iris (Calamy) answers her doctor when she is asked how things are going with her husband (Vincent Elbaz). The words slip from her mouth like a brutal realisation: how long has it been since they last made love

Iris has a wonderful husband, two perfect daughters, a thriving dental practice: everything is going well for Iris. But how long has it been since she had sex? Maybe it’s time to take a lover. Registering herself on a dating app on a suggestion from another lady, Iris opens Pandora’s box. Men are going to fall… as if it were raining! And while this movie is not a musical, it does slip in Iris dancing with a lot of men, while the afore mentioned song, It’s Raining Men plays out on the screen. Calamy certainly does have her dancing shoes on in the scene.

While this film could have fallen into a dark place (after all using dating sites can be dangerous place), Iris finds men to suit “her needs” easily. It is also surprising her family don’t twig as to what is happening to Iris, but then this is a nice light-hearted comedy.

The men she chooses, naturally, vary in age, style and looks. Iris sets the rules early in the meeting, only one “bed” meeting, “no matter how good it is”, and she will not leave her husband.

The film is not quite as good as Antoinette in The Cévennes but Laure Calamy makes this a cheeky, enjoyable couple of hours. Don’t leave before the credits roll out. There is an interesting twist at the end.

Movie Review by Geoff Jenke

Iris and the Men at Palace Nova Cinema’s from August 15. Advanced screening this weekend 9 -11 August.

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