Where to begin?!A good start would be the total, even fraudulent,misuse of the word 'comedy' to describe this film. Bearing in mind the storyline (middle aged homosexual man in a small french village becomes involved with a sixteen year old girl), I knew I wouldn't be rolling in the aisles with laughter but I did expect witty, ironic and wry (but not too much since they are French after all ...). What I got was a handful of badly delivered, moderately funny lines and a total absence of any, even slightly, comic scenes. Which brings me to the next problem, the so called plot. Again I didn't expect a Hollywoodian epic, just a well written plot with strong characters.The reality? A series of 'scenes' with no particular sense, a large number of which focused on a man cycling or running or looking socially inept. The characters were one dimensional characters,for which I felt no interest, empathy or affinity. I had no idea where the film was going (nowhere, incidentally)and I had the impression neither did the director. In short I found this film self-satisfied,pretentious and dull.

When I first read about the movie, I thought I might be bored, but I was wrong. The movie is very funny, from beginning to end. The humor is sometimes slight, sometimes obvious, sometimes verbal, sometimes visual. The plot is original and rich. The hero is a gay man in his forties, leading stagnant life, not necessarily fulfilling, but not miserable either. Several things happen that cause him to doubt himself, and develop midlife crisis. He's attempting to make some drastic changes in his life, and goes though a comic journey of finding himself. Although the hero is gay, the story conveys a message that is universally appealing, for gay and straight viewers. Very enjoyable movie!