Up for Love (2016)
Un homme à la hauteur
Film details
Comedy · Romance · Drama · Laurent Tirard · 1h 38min
Synopsis
Diane is a well-known lawyer, divorced for three years. She loses her mobile telephone and receives a call from the person who finds it. That person is Alexandre, a charming man and the perfect gentleman. They make a connection over the phone and agree to meet up the following day. But when Alexandre arrives, there's a surprise in store when Diane discovers he is only 4' 6" tall. From that moment on, Diane tries to overcome the prejudices of society and her own fears to experience the best time of her life...
Verdict
Romantic comedy that questions prejudices about appearance with light humor.
In-depth analysis
This French comedy uses the classic trope of the unexpected encounter to pose a simple yet profound question: what weighs more in love, appearance or the person? The script skillfully builds the tension between the protagonist's genuine charm (cultured, witty, sensitive) and the lawyer's initial prejudice upon discovering he is one meter thirty centimeters tall. The narrative insight lies in the fact that it does not resolve the conflict with a sermon on tolerance, but by showing the protagonist's real struggle between what she feels and what she fears others will think. The film possesses moral clarity: prejudices about height are exactly that—prejudices that must be overcome. The humor is mature but never cruel, and the chemistry between the actors sustains a story that could have become condescending but chooses dignity. For married couples and young adults, it is an opportunity to discuss how culture teaches us to value the superficial and how true love demands a deeper gaze. The romantic content is moderate (kisses, scenes of intimacy suggested but not explicit), and the language, occasionally brusque. Not recommended for unaccompanied minors.