264. Lolo; movie review

LOLO
Cert TBA
99 mins
BBFC advice: TBA

"HILARIOUS!" Just in case anyone should miss it, the promotional tag for Julie Delpy's Lolo was written in large red capitals and an exclamation mark.
My experience leads me to believe that this would suggest the marketing team were rather unsure of themselves.
In my view Lolo is not laugh-out-loud funny. Moderately amusing, yes. Hilarious no.
Delpy stars and directs this comedy about a 45-year-old who is torn between trying to find a suitable man and her ultra-needy and spoilt teenage son (Vincent Lacoste).
Unfortunately, the two don't mix as her jealous offspring tends to scare off suitors through elaborate set-ups.
The latest in the line of misfortunates is Jean-René, played with quirky good intent by Dany Boon.
He is from Biarritz where he falls in love with the beautiful divorcee during her spa break.
All is hunky dory until the action turns to Paris and, feeling threatened, her son comes up with a catalogue of embarrassing ruses which he hopes will split his mother from her new fella.
I suspect Lolo will appeal to women more than men because of Delpy's portrayal of middle-age. She is a nice combo of desperate-to-please mum, frustrated lover and potty-mouthed friend.
Boon plays an affable foil while Lacoste has a suitably wicked glint as he prepares for battle with his new foe.
But, ultimately, my engagement with Lolo waned because it kept going over the same ground and its conclusion was predictable after half an hour.
Nevertheless, there are worse ways to spend 99 minutes.

Reasons to watch: a frothy farce
Reasons to avoid: did not elicit enough laughs

Laughs: just a couple of chuckles
Jumps: none
Vomit: yes
Nudity: yes
Overall rating: 6/10
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