Review: Hors de prix ("Priceless")

Priceless was released in 2006, but the DVD became available this Tuesday, so here is a review.

There is a group of individuals who make their living by seducing rich men (or women) and working their way around the social ladder. Though sometimes called 'gold-diggers,' the women seem much less like tramps when every day is a new outfit that costs not a euro less than 2,000. Such is the occupation of Audrey Tautou's character Irene in 'Priceless.'

As Irene explains in the film--beauty can be resisted, but not charm. Tautou is perfect in this role because, while not an Angelina Jolie or Jessica Alba or whoever, she has as a unique disarming quality that makes men fall quickly. She doesn't hide her lifestyle, and often maneuvers from one man to the next before dropping her last one.

The complications come when she mistakes a barman in a hotel named Jean (Gad Elmaleh) as one of these rich men. She sleeps with him because he has money, and he sleeps with her because she's gorgeous -- or is it because she's so good at seduction? What's pleasant about the film is that it does not play on this bland concept through the whole film (like in, say, 'How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days'), and once she finds out he is in the hotel's employ, begins treating him like she would any other financier. She runs up his credit card, and to please her, he empties his savings on her. He knows what he's doing, but does it anyway.

What makes this film truly unique is the turn the story takes. Jean, now broke, and through rather humorous circumstances, ends up doing the same thing Irene does, except for a woman who, it appears, is more wildly rich than any of the men Irene has been with. The woman starts Jean off slowly, but thanks to some tips from Irene and a bit of his own savvy, before long he gets a 30,000 euro watch, among other things. Irene is naturally jealous.

Do Irene and Jean eventually realize that they love each other? Yes. Do they realize that money doesn't matter? Yes. These are all obvious conclusions within the first ten minutes. What makes this movie so enjoyable is how they get there.

The two work together, working their rich lovers, all the while seeing each other--but not in a 'hooking up' way, merely to compare notes and conquests. They put up a front for the whole world, but with each other, it is the harsh truth around the clock. And they do care for each other. Two of the movie's most charming moments are, firstly, after Irene has driven Jean's bank account into the ground, she still thinks to buy him a first class ticket home. Later, when Irene's plans completely collapse, Jean bails her out--and, having learned so much, still covers his tracks.

'Priceless' is about as cute of a romantic comedy as one can get. Yet, since the characters have glaring flaws and seemingly insatiable hunger for money, we see a dark shroud around their good, kind inner core. And those layers are what make movies truly memorable.

Rating: 6.5/7