On va s'aimer (2006)
Directed by Ivan Calbérac

Film Review

Director Ivan Calbérac followed up his promising début feature Irène (2002) with this somewhat less inspiring romantic comedy which tries to conceal its banality through the now hackneyed device of having the main characters break into song as and when the mood takes them.  The idea of incorporating songs into a dramatic narrative is not new and has been done successfully in the past - Dennis Potter mastered the technique in his TV serials Pennies from Heaven (1978) and The Singing Detective (1986).  Unfortunately, in recent years this idea has been frequently employed merely to lend style to a film that is lacking in substance, and On va s'aimer is a case in point.  In contrast to the Potter serials, here the actors are all called upon to sing their own songs, which may help the sale of ear plugs but does little for the film's credibility. 

With a cast that includes actors of the calibre of Julien Boisselier and Gilles Lellouche, On va s'aimer could hardly fail.  But, whilst the performances are generally beyond reproach, the film falls short of average in virtually every other department.  The anodyne plot has been seen before in countless other films, TV movies and soap operas (and can probably be traced as far back as Shakespeare).  Some of the jokes are just as well-worn.   Ivan Calbérac still shows promise as a writer and filmmaker but his directorial misjudgements in this film are a disappointment.  On va s'égarer would have been a more appropriate title.

Film Synopsis

Even though Laurent is fond of Camille and has been in a relationship with her for some time he cannot bring himself to marry her.  It turns out that his instincts were right, because when he then meets Élodie he realises that he doesn't really love Camille at all.  It is Élodie who is Laurent's perfect soul mate, Élodie who makes him feel fully alive for the first time in his life and with whom he wants to spend every last second of his remaining days.  In short, it is Élodie whom Laurent loves, not Camille.  But there's just one little problem.  Élodie is presently engaged to Laurent's best friend, François.  The latter is stunned when his fiancée suddenly leaves him without any warning.  Certain that she has found herself another man, François hires a private detective to uncover the identity of this mysterious individual...