Review: C'EST LA VIE

Super caterer Max is dealing again with a couple who want to skimp on the costs of their wedding reception. The venue has a massive view of the Eiffel Tower and they're talking about saving on the petit fours. With deadly precision Max takes it further in an increasingly withering display barely restrained contempt until the parsimonious pair are forced to retreat, perhaps forever. He's not displeased. He heads off to the baroque chateau for his next job, juggling an over disciplined assistant, the wrong band, a depressive waiter who once dated the bride, a host of workers who have their own problems and an overbearing narcissist who thinks he is a natural orator and balloon performer. What could go wrong?

Well, this is the kind of film that telescopes each disaster of varying magnitude and tests the characters to bring it through. If there's too much tension about this it must veer towards satire but this gentle and charming ensemble piece keeps the brittleness at bay but does forage for some deeper laughs. You know what's going to happen (the massive quantities of what must be the sponsor champagne label would have seen to that) but the fun of it is in the performances and they fit together here perfectly.

Really? That's it? Hey you get a good, fast paced event comedy in sumptuous surrounds and performed by a mix of old stagers and hot young newcomers delivered with all the charm of the French (when they are trying to please). What more do you want?