After sitting in the theater to watch this "hysterical" independent film called The Chateau, I found that I could find absolutely nothing redeeming about it. I sat for what seemed like 2 hrs, watching this supposed comedy, and I began wondering how a filmmaker can devote more than that to making the film that I just watched in torment. Honestly, I appreciate Paul Rudd's performance. The character he's playing is a tremendous ass, as well as his adopted brother. And they both do pretty good jobs at demonstrating that. But is there an actual reason to give 2 hrs to viewing this movie? I mean, besides studying intercultural conflicts? Where the American visitors are of course, the ignorant ones, and the French are of course the pompous ones. Nothing new. It does a great job at exploiting that to the brink. In fact, if one chose to, one could say that The Chateau does a great job at exploiting the Indy genre to the brink. Lots of film-makers tend to make films about things that interest them, rather than what will interest the audience, and that's fine. But what could Jesse Peretz be thinking?
Review of The Château
The Château
(2001)
Paul Rudd does a great job at making the audience want to kill him.
12 September 2002