Everybody Loves Jeanne (2022)

The French romantic comedy-drama Everybody Loves Jeanne, directed by Céline Devaux, is a disappointment. The story revolves around Jeanne, an entrepreneur, who is struggling with depression following the death of her mother and the collapse of her business. She decides to sell her mother’s apartment in Lisbon to clear her debt and on the way, she meets Jean, a former high school classmate.

Unfortunately, the plot of the movie is predictable and lacks depth, with a weak conflict and resolution. Jeanne’s constant self-doubt and depression are explored in a superficial and clichéd way. The tone of the movie is inconsistent, and the attempts at humour fall flat. There are also times of forced sentimentality. The acting is competent, but the characters are underdeveloped and lack nuance. The music is forgettable and doesn’t enhance the emotional impact of the scenes.

The insertion of animations that represent Jeanne’s inner voice is the more interesting aspect of the movie. They were a creative way to convey Jeanne’s emotional turmoil, but they felt intrusive and annoying after a while. The dialogue is mostly banal and lacks any wit or depth, making it difficult to call it a romantic comedy. The execution of the film was lacklustre and formulaic, which made it a boring experience. The movie felt way longer than its 95 minutes.

I would not recommend this movie. There are far better films to spend your time on. It may appeal to those who enjoy light and predictable movies with a hint of quirkiness, but for those who seek engaging and captivating movies, this one is a miss.

(In cinemas in Australia – check your local movie guide for show times.)