Not on the Lips (2003)

A Gallic charmer from Resnais

One of those French directors who can seemingly turn his hand to any subject, Alain Resnais has made everything from the hauntingly enigmatic 'Last Year At Marienbad' to gangster flick 'Stavisky'. He's toyed with making partial musicals twice before with 'On Connait La Chanon' and 'Life Is A Bed Of Roses', but here he turns out the real deal, with a charming romantic comedy sung and performed by the cream of France's actors. Although filled with perky songs, it's a traditional chamber piece played out in quite claustrophobic interiors. If you enjoyed '8 Women', you'll probably love it. August 23, 2007

Nostalgic French Musical of the Twenties

Ah..how we miss the naughty twenties. This 1920's operatta brings back those times with catchy French tunes and saucy puns. Mix a little George Gershwin, Charly Chaplin, and Maurice Chevalier. The film is fluffy and light; Sabine Azema is magnificent in her gorgeous gowns. The movie won't satisfy the taste of everyone but for those who miss charm and good clean fun in contemporary cinema, give this one a whirl. I liked it. January 25, 2006

Enjoyable museum piece

Imagine Woody Allen unearthing a naughty 1920s play, maybe one written by Mae West, with a few catchy patter songs in it. Imagine Woody casting it with attractive stars who can't all sing too well and setting it in a set that is handsome but stage bound, with a mobile, almost dancing camera. Now you can imagine what "Pas Sur La Bouche" is like. As a Frenchman, I enjoyed hugely all the musty puns, the daffy songs and all the silliness. My American wife could not stand five minutes of it. It is all very "boulevard," with asides to the audience and a lot of "Ciel, Mon Mari" situations. If you are in the mood for a French museum piece, you will love this. Otherwise... July 11, 2005

One of the Year's Best Films

Despite not getting a theatrical release Alain Resnais' ("Hiroshima mon amour") "Not On The Lips" is without doubt one of the best films I've seen this year. How sad that the movie will not be opened to larger audiences as this was one of the few films I've seen where I can say I had a lot of fun watching it.

"Not On The Lips" is a throwback to those wonderful comedies and musicals that were made back in the 1930's. Resnais says one of his main sources of inspiration were the Hal Roach comedies. Roach for those that don't know was a comedy producer who had such stars as Laurel & Hardy, Charlie Chase, and Zasu Pitts.

The film is really just eye candy. It is filmmed in bright lavish colors with characters wearing glamorous glowns and tuxedos. And everybody is singing about love. The only other recent movie I can think of to compare this movie to, in order to give you an idea of what to expect is a movie Woody Allen made a few years back called "Everyone Says I Love You". Both films carry a sentimentality of 30's cinema.

Gilberte Valandray (Sabine Azema) is married to Georges (Pierre Arditi) but has a lover, Charley (Jalil Lespert) now is just so happens that Huguette a friend secretly has a crush on Charley and wants to marry him. So the two women fight for his attention. Now Georges is a business man who is about to close a big deal for his company with an American, Eric Thomas (Lambert Wilson). But, what Georges doesn't know is that Gilberte was married before to Eric. Now Gilberte and her sister, Arlette (Isabelle Nanty) must try an convince Eric not to reveal Gilberte's secret. But Eric is still in love with Gilberte. And that's "Not On The Lips" is a nutshell. It's really a broad bedroom farce, though I don't know if that term is used anymore.

I found that I enjoyed most of the musical numbers which come from a 1920's comic opera written by Andre Barde. The last three songs I didn't like especially a song about a key hole.

Now that you know the plot I think it's fairly easy to decide if this is "your kind of movie". If you've enjoyed past films from Resnais, this should please you. If you've never heard of Alain Resnais but like old-fashioned musical-comedies, this just please you as well. I hope many people make an effort to see this gem of a movie.

Bottom-line: One of the best films I've seen this year. A throwback to the musicalcomedies of the 1930's. Greatly inspired by the Hal Roach comedies. April 23, 2005

A Delicious Bon Bon of Musical French Fluff

PAS SUR LA BOUCHE is a beautifully wrapped French confection that brings to the screen a performance of a French operetta by the same name. One may question why, in 2003, anyone would want to devote time and money to a story so light and Feydeau-farcical and, even more, why a director of the stature of Alain Resnais would be at the helm. Well, take a deep breath, swallow credibility, and sit back and enjoy this glittering little piece for what it is - entertainment.

As in musicals of the 1920s around the world (especially those in the USA!) the story is about love, misinformation, tricks, covering past affairs, and the usual nonsense of play within the play. The story is unimportant: the pleasure is all in the technique of the actors/singers who treat this light score with just the right amount of magic to make it work. Audrey Tautou, Sabine Azéma, Isabelle Nanty, Pierre Arditi, Jalil Lespert, Daniel Prévost, and Lambert Wilson give it their all.

Resnais' hand is evident in the stage movement, use of mirrors and disappearing exits. Even the titles and ending credits keep the candy going. For those who are not fluent in French, the subtitles will draw focus: the singing and dialogue are so rapid that there is little time for the eye to stray to the characters! In all, not a film for everyone, but if French farce is your cup of tea, it doesn't get more charming than this! Grady Harp, April 05 April 8, 2005

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