It Boy (2013)

..there's a lot going on in this quirky-cute, little ninety minute rom-com... actually is a fan-com (fantasy comedy).. because there's absolutely no way in any known universe where the likes of this incredible 'woman' would be completely unattached, and be hooking up with this 'kid'.. it's a charming but totally predictable script, with an ending that holds true to form, but the film does work because of these two lead characters.. especially Virginie Efira.. she is a bona-fide star, and there's not one scene in the movie when she's on-screen that you can take your eyes off her.. she's just gorgeous.. and has acting talent to go along with her alluring beauty..

Fmovies: 20 ans d'écart is the prototype of the not fully achieved French comedy, where the premise is rather interesting but doesn't go the distance.

Indeed, the script first sets in a very efficient and rather dynamic way the base of the plot, with a few touches of humour perfectly spicing up the dialogues. But unfortunately, the more the movie goes, the more you realise the writers didn't quite know where to go. The pace drops, the lines become less incisive, and the story struggles to get a second wind until the happy ending.

Overall, the movie is too conventional and doesn't exploit enough its comical resources. The characters lack depth but the duo of actors works well even though Niney overacts a bit, probably due to how his character was written.

Everything isn't to be thrown away therefore, far from it, but with a little more ambition, this could have been a good to very good comedy.

The thirty-eight year-old ambitious and workaholic editor of the fashion magazine Rebelle Alice Lantins (Virginie Efira) returns from Brazil to Paris and loses her flash memory in the airplane. However, the student of architecture Balthazar Apfel (Pierre Niney) finds it and calls Alice to tell her. She schedules a meeting in the bar where Balthazar is drinking with his friends but he tells her that the device is at home. He offers a ride in his scooter to Alice and while he is putting the spare helmet on her, two coworkers of Alice see from an angle that make them believe that Balthazar is kissing Alice. They take a photo and posts it in the Tweeter.

On the next morning, everybody is laughing at Alice but the chief editor and her boss Vincent Khan (Gilles Cohen) loves the idea that Alice is dating someone twenty years younger. Alice decides to impersonate that she is in love with Balthazar to get a promotion in the magazine. But soon she learns that she should not trifle with love.

"20 ans d'écart" is a delightful romantic comedy with a charming lead actress. The Belgium Virginie Efira is unknown in Brazil, but she is an elegant, gorgeous and sultry actress that shows perfect chemistry with the funny and clumsy Pierre Niney. The conventional conclusion disappoints but it is worthwhile watching this movie. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "20 Anos + Jovem" ("20 Years Younger")