La Cerise sur le gâteau (2012)
Directed by Laura Morante

Film Review

Laura Morante is the latest prominent actress (a star of Italian cinema) to jump onto the film directing band wagon, but judging by her first directorial effort - a stilted romantic comedy that thinks it is far cleverer than it really is - she's unlikely to give up the day job any time soon.  La Cerise sur le gâteau is yet another  misguided attempt at a mainstream comedy which starts with a totally facile concept (a woman who is pathologically afraid of men falls for a man whom she thinks is gay but isn't) and singularly fails to make anything of it, despite the abundance of acting talent that gets thrown at it.

Laura Morante clearly does want to have her cake and eat it - not only does she write and direct the film, she also takes the lead role, and it's no surprise which job she does best.  Even with such distinguished performers as Pascal Elbé and Isabelle Carré brought on board to share the load, Morante struggles to keep her scuppered comedy vessel from capsizing.  Unevenly directed and hampered by a script that contains not a single intelligent idea, La Cerise sur le gâteau would be a total misfire were it not for Elbé's captivating presence and his sparkling natural rapport with Morante.  Why, oh why can't people stick to what they do best?

Film Synopsis

Amanda suffers from androphobia, an irrational fear of men which ruins every opportunity she has to fall in love.  Her best friend Florence is determined that she will one day enjoy a stable and harmonious relationship with a man.  Amanda agrees to attend Florence's New Year's Eve party, on condition that only couples are invited to the party.  The only exception is Maxime, a colleague whom she knows to be gay.  But, at the last minute, Maxime is called away to join his lover in Amsterdam.  Meanwhile, Antoine, only recently separated from his wife, turns up at the party alone...