Review of Camille

Camille (I) (2008)
8/10
Expect a fairytale!
29 September 2011
The less you know about the plot, the better. The best way to enjoy this movie is to just expect a fairytale. Be ready for a crazy, surreal, comedic & romantic story, and don't try to rationalize any of the wacky things that happen.

I picked up this DVD for $2 at my local Blockbuster, and if you hurry down to yours there may be a few left in the bargain bin. You'll get your money's worth and then some! Packaged as a romantic comedy about a good girl & a bad boy, the description hardly begins to scratch the surface. But I have to commend the DVD distributors for not giving away the story. The fun is when it hits you and you realize what an original, cute & slightly creepy story this is. And the humour follows brilliantly. I advise you not to even watch the trailer (which gives away the story somewhat).

Still, you're probably wondering what the heck this movie is about. I won't say, but you can probably compare it to such surreal modern fantasies as "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", "Stranger than Fiction", "Being John Malkovich" and an obscure gem called "Grand Theft Parsons". All these excellent films share the common approach of dealing with heavy, soul-searching themes in light-hearted ways. They make you think about your life & your philosophy of living, or... you could just enjoy some laughs & silly times. There's something in it for everyone.

"Camille" is rated PG-13 and even that is a bit stern. There's no nudity, no gratuitous sex or violence, and hardly any profanity that I can remember. Compared to other modern rom-coms, it may seem watered down to some, but to me it was even more refreshing. Like a fairytale, there's something about it that makes you feel like a kid again, even though the story can get pretty weird.

The acting & casting is perfect. Sienna pulls off the lead role of being a hopelessly cheerful girl without being sappy or annoying. Her beau is the perfect counterpart: a cynical rogue but with a boyish innocence and cute crooked smile that makes you instantly like him, even when he's being a total butt. And David Carradine as the wise- yet-kooky cowboy... wow, what can I say but he has a great comedy career ahead of him if he chooses to go that way.

So don't hesitate to go see this film. It's a rom-com, a road movie, an emotional drama, a fantasy & above all else a fairytale. If more movies were like this, I'd probably start going to the theater again.
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