DVD Review: Size Matters For Jean Dujardin & Virginie Efira in UP FOR LOVE

Based on the 2013 film Corazón de León, Up For Love is a fun little French romantic comedy that entertains but ultimately fails to fulfil. It’s a bright and breezy effort which once again reminds us that they really don’t make enough movies like this anymore – even when they lack that special ‘je ne said quo’.

Virginie Efira is Diane, a lawyer who loses her phone in a restaurant. It’s discovered by Alexandre (Jean Dujardin) a charismatic architect with a smooth tongue who manages to talk Diane into a date. She’s surprised to discover that Alexander is only 4 1/2 feet tall but she doesn’t let his size get in the way and they start up a relationship. However, as time progresses the height difference begins to cause problems…

The main selling point of Up For Love is that Hobbit-syle jiggery-pokery has been used to shrink the nearly 6 foot tall Dujardin down to 4 1/2 feet. Many have argued that a diminutive actor should have been given the role of Alexandre but that would have taken away the fairy-tale aspect which drives the story Remove the far-fetched nature of Laurent Tirard’s film and it just becomes a mean-spirited relationship drama. The touch of fancy is what makes it work as a comedy. Both Jean Dujardin and Virginie Efra share good chemistry and they keep the story buoyant even when the plot begins to sag and the jokes begin to lag.

Bright cinematography gives Up For Love a glossy sheen and there’s something of a Rock Hudson/Doris Day vibe when everything is firing on all cylinders. It’s not perfect, but it’s an enjoyable light weight comedy.

Special Features

Up For Love Comes with a trailer and a short( no pun intended) featurette covering the films production. It runs under four minutes but it gives you sound bites with writer/director Laurent Tirard and the cast.