Love is All You Need - film review

Susanne Bier's cheerful romcom has some sharpish touches, it's a kind of Mamma Mia! without music, says Derek Malcolm
(AN19440514
19 April 2013

The usually serious Susanne Bier, Danish director of the Oscar-winning In a Better World, has lowered her sights with this cheerful romcom. It's a kind of Mamma Mia! without songs, with touristy Italian settings and one huge saving grace. In case that doesn't sound appealing, Trine Dyrholm, as a wronged wife, makes the film worth seeing all by herself.

After walking in on her husband canoodling with a young woman on their sofa at home, Ida, a Danish hairdresser, has her daughter’s wedding in magical Italy to contend with. The daughter is marrying the son of a smooth widower, Philip (Pierce Brosnan), who clearly fancies Ida. The wedding goes pear-shaped, Philip declares his undying love and Ida has to choose between him and husband, who now wants her back.

We can guess what will happen since Bier seems to be saying that everyone should have the courage to go their own way despite society’s conventions.

Dyrholm’s performance is the one thing in the film that escapes any charge of playing down to the audience and an immaculately coiffed Brosnan, who comes in for a haircut he clearly doesn’t need, does his best to match her. Nobody, however, could. She lifts a film which has some sharpish touches but never strays long enough from obvious paths, including a soapy background score. It could be a big success, even with a lot of Danish subtitles.

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