Search - My Wife is an Actress on DVD

Fun film

Nick Lush | Lawrence, KS | 01/07/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

""My Wife is an Actress" is just a recent example of why the best films that are currently available are coming from overseas instead of from Hollywood. "Amelie", "Autumn Spring", "the Navigators", "Billy Elliot", "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels", "Cowboy Bebop: The Movie", "Morvern Callar", "Merci Pour le Chocolat", "Nowhere in Africa", "Y Tu Mama Tambien", and "L'Auberge Espagnole" are all further proof that it is the Europeans whose earnest and creative writing and interesting cinematography are at the cutting edge of today's film industry. This film is driven by Yvan Attal's neuroses which provides a fun glimpse into the daily workings of a sort-of-true-to-life celebrity couple. The screenplay is a lot of fun, and the film maintains a sort of self-deprecating humor and simultaneously energy that is a lot of fun to watch. It is especially humorous when you consider the marriages we have here like "Bennifer", Tom and Nicole/Penelope, and Britney's new marriage/annulment. I find it interesting that so many people are fascinated by real-life dysfunctional relationships in Hollywood, but when two celebrities attempt to make a film poking fun at their own problems, people disregard it. "My Wife is An Actress" is a fun and enjoyable film, and a great date movie. I would definitely recommend this film to anyone."

Charmingly amusing

Charlotte Vale-Allen | CT USA | 02/16/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"What is as intriguing about this film as the film itself is the background of the stars. Charlotte Gainsbourg is the daughter of the (in)famous Serge Gainsbourg, French singer-songwriter of great international cultural influence and English actress, Jane Birkin. Charlotte is married to her co-star, Yvan Attal, and the screenplay has its roots in their actual life--Yvan's difficulties in being married to someone recognized everywhere she goes.While Charlotte isn't a great beauty in the typically American fashion, she has a compelling screen presence that makes her stardom believable. When in London to do a film with Terence Stamp (all the women in this film gush about what a "hottie" he is--and that's simply not believable), husband Yvan's doubts, fears, and jealousy come to full boil.Stamp turns in a gorgeous performance as the archetypal self-involved, always-out-to-impress-the-little-people British actor--wowing the women (while just a bit tipsy) with quotes from plays and poetry. And Charlotte is credibly drawn to him, simply because he is an actor; she needn't justify her existence as a performer.There are some truly funny scenes, especially with Yvan's pregnant sister and her husband who are in a seemingly endless battle over whether or not to circumcise their child. Like Woody Allen's Annie Hall, Yvan's sister has a lot of prickly reactions to the issue of Jewishness (she and Yvan are Jewish, neither of them have Jewish partners.)This is a low-key film with some lovely moments, a fair bit of underlying truth about the illusory aspects of stardom, and fine performances across the board.
Highly recommended."