Green Card
December. 23,1990 PG-13Urban horticulturalist Brontë Mitchell has her eye on a gorgeous apartment, but the building's board will rent it only to a married couple. Georges Fauré, a waiter from France whose visa is expiring, needs to marry an American woman to stay in the country. Their marriage of convenience turns into a burden when they must live together to allay the suspicions of the immigration service, as the polar opposites grate on each other's nerves.
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Reviews
You won't be disappointed!
If you don't like this, we can't be friends.
Good story, Not enough for a whole film
Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.
This is a very thirties concept some half a century later so it needs something special to make it work and luckily it HAS something special in the shape (literally) of Gerard Depardieu and Andie McDowell both of whom manage to overcome the knowledge that the viewer has from frame #1 that their initial indifference will work its way through mutual contempt to enduring love. The story takes its time to establish the totally opposite personalities of the principals and there are just enough set pieces to keep it bubbling along on a low light. Charm is a good work here as both principals have it in spades and are not shy about unleashing it on a Rom-Com hungry public. One that will stand repeated viewings.
GREEN CARD comes across as having a premise that would have worked superbly in a situation comedy . One where a protagonist needs a green card in order to stay in the country but problems arise when the authorities check out their story . You can just imagine Edmund Blackadder or Alun Partridge frantically trying to come up with a story when the immigration people start asking about their new found spouse . There's a very good reason why sit com episodes last 30 minutes while a feature film lasts at least three times that and why plots and premises are often interchangeable There is some mileage behind the concept as French immigrant Georges tries to BS himself past his interrogators only to have one of them ask to use the toilet but being a romantic comedy there has to be a certain level of romance which dilutes the comedy . This doesn't make GREEN CARD a terrible film but does make it fairly predictable . It's also interesting to note the lack of impact French mega stars make in Hollywood movies . Watch Belmondo , Delon , Reno or Cassell in a French movie and they're truly charismatic . Watch them in an American movie and you'll wonder what all the fuss is about and it's the same with Gerard Depardieu in this film .
A good Rom-Com should include misunderstandings and a clash between a man and a woman, who comes from different backgrounds. They differ in class, wealth, religion etc etc. In this particular movie they differ in nationality. But they do not just simply represent the American and the French, they are different as individuals as well. She has high moral standards while he is careless and sloppy. And as often, she is serious at the brink of being boring, while he is spontaneous and funny.The clash between these two persons is lovely to watch. Without revealing anything I will just cite two things: "The elephants has been restless again" And the title of the photo: "The Handyman"!Isn't it the small thing that makes the differens between the average and the original movie. Georges letters from Africa, describing mostly the restless elephants, keeping him from sleeping, are just brilliant!
After having luckily found this on Amazon UK.I have to say that this is a very underrated film and one of Peter"The Truman Show,The Plumber" Weirs best. The plot:A man from France George Faure who wants a job in America.Is offed one,but he first has to get a green card.And he finds out that the best way to get it is to marry an American.So he meets Bronte Parrish,who is very into horticultural has at last found the perfect flat with a great green house.But, Bronte finds out that you have to be married to get the flat.Parrish then decides to get George to pretend that they are married.As time goes on,they each start to have very real feelings for each other. View on the film:The cast:I have to say that while the casting is quite different to most "romance movies"(no sign of Julia Robets!.)I feel that Gerard Depardieu and Andie McaDowell really work well together and you feel a real relationship with both of them.Also, the supporting cast do a really good job with there parts,and keeping there characters connected to the main leads.The screenplay and direction:Writer,producer and director Peter Weir,does a really good job at keeping everything together.While it is best that you don't view the movie as completely "realalisc" (why does she not just save up for the green house?.)He luckily keeps the movie moving at a fast pace so it feels you are on some type of ride.The main downside to the film are the song at the end,that feel very out-of-place.But this is still a very good film.Final view on the film:A really good and underrated romantic comedy film by Peter Weir.