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Cheri

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4:00AM Thursday September 17, 2009

Rating: * * *

Verdict: Witty, stylish and lighthearted, yet an emotionally aloof romantic drama.

Director Stephen Frears, writer Christopher Hampton and actress Michelle Pfeiffer reunite for the first time since their Dangerous Liaisons for this charming adaptation of Colette's novels Cheri and The Last of Cheri.

It may be another scandal-laden French period piece staring a radiant Pfeiffer, but Frears' work is always varied, from My Beautiful Laundrette, to High Fidelity and The Queen, and Cheri is far from being another Dangerous Liaisons. Where Liaisons is coldheartedly devious; Cheri is witty and mischievous, with Pfeiffer playing a prostitute rather than a married woman of virtue.

Set at the end of the 19th century in the Belle Epoque period (considered a bit of a purple patch for the French upper classes), Frears has created a scrumptious world in which to escape, filled with exquisite costumes, romantic decor and beautiful gardens. Pfeiffer fits in perfectly and just glows as courtesan Lea de Lonval, a woman whose business is love, and one at which she has been very successful.

Contemplating retirement, she indulges herself in one last fling with Cheri (Friend), the wayward 19-year-old son of one of her rivals, Madame Peloux (Bates).

Much to her surprise, Lea finds the roles reversed in this relationship as she financially supports her young lover.

The pair remains together for six years, until Madame Peloux forces them apart by arranging a marriage for Cheri to the young and pretty Edmee (Felicity Jones), the daughter of another colleague.

From this point the complexities begin to appear, what characters say and mean are no longer the same as each comes to terms with their true feelings for the other. The script also gets sluggish, as our narcissist leads get more and more wrapped up in themselves and the end of their affair. As the games and battles are won and lost Cheri becomes less sassy and lighthearted and more melodramatic.

Pfeiffer and Friend are both well-cast and their relationship is believable even if their sexual chemistry fizzles out and becomes nurturing rather than sizzling hot.

It's Pfeiffer who holds this show together, trying hard to draw us into the story, but the odd mix of lighthearted comedy and drama is just not quite right. As lovely as Cheri is, we never really get emotionally involved and remain just observers to this tragic affair.

Francesca Rudkin

Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathy Bates, Rupert Friend

Director: Stephen Frears

Running Time: 92 mins

Rating: M (Sex Scenes)

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