The Chateau

First Bob Balaban resurrected the Ugly American to nice comic effect in Gosford Park, and now we have Ugly Americans in this literally ugly film. Shot on digital video and blown up to putrid 35mm, I was once again reminded of how George Lucas' miraculous new digital camera that looks good no matter what can't get here fast enough. But in this film, the ugliness actually has a point, intentionally or not, reminding us that this isn't Renoir's France anymore: it's a France of different economic and social realities, invaded by overly pragmatic barbarians.

Graham Granville (Paul Rudd) and adopted black bro Rex (Romany Malco) arrive in a small French village, having been notified that they are the inheritors, by lineage, of a French chateau [!]. Debts are huge, they discover, and pragmatic businessman Rex decides to sell the place. The loyal staff, of course, have their reasons for not wanting to leave, and thwart his plans. Graham gets nervous all over the place, phoning his therapist nightly, while Rex falls for one of the maids. The ending is slightly confusing: it's either pro-tradition or anti-French. Either way, it's surprisingly and refreshingly unprogressive.

Though the plot is stale, it's a nice comic outing for all involved. Shot in 13 days, the film carries a sense of freshness due to the stellar delivery of all the lines, cliches included. Even the romantic passages occur smoothly, not disturbing the viewer's pleasure. Also, watch a drunken Paul Rudd tell off those "faggy froggy frogs." It's slight, trivial, but undeniably funny, getting unexpected mileage out of old gags and situations. Worth a look.

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