French Exit

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: February 12, 2021

5.9	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 18 Ratings

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Brent_MarchantApr 16, 2021

Admittedly, not everything works in this quirky absurdist comedy-drama, but, when it does click (which is most of the time), director Azazel Jacobs' meditation on life, death, love, family, friendship and what matters in life delights with anAdmittedly, not everything works in this quirky absurdist comedy-drama, but, when it does click (which is most of the time), director Azazel Jacobs' meditation on life, death, love, family, friendship and what matters in life delights with an impish glee. When a wealthy widow who has long been a fixture in New York high society suddenly finds herself broke, she and her adult son quietly relocate to Paris in an attempt to make a new life for themselves, despite a number of glitches that intrude on their plans. The picture's superb ensemble cast, most notably headliner Michelle Pfeiffer and supporting player Valerie Mahaffey, coupled with its insightful and endlessly witty repartee, combine to serve up laugh-out-loud fun, as well as more than a few tender and tense moments. The film sometimes stumbles when it comes to the cohesion of its narrative, but, considering everything else it has to offer, that's easily brushed aside merely as being part of the production's overall eccentricity. Remember, most things French have an inherent element of absurdity as part of their character and charm, so why shouldn't that be the case with a story set in the heart of such refined madness?… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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JLuis_001May 16, 2021

There's a very big gap, between what this movie is, what it wanted to be, and what it could've been.

I cannot say that it's an openly disappointing film, but in my opinion it has nothing that makes it stand out in a sea full of other films.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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davemelbourne58Apr 4, 2021

This movie started off very promising. Michelle Pfieffer was dropping witty bon mots, and cutting people to the core with her stare. Unforunately this movie had too many subplots, and characters, and was probably better off as a book.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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Marie21Apr 12, 2021

Worst film I have ever seen. Complete substanceless garbage. Pffifer is as bad as the drug company with the same name, unbearable painful personality she portrays without a single redemptive quality.

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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ahmedaiman1999May 12, 2021

Do you ever feel that you've had adulthood thrust upon you
at too young an age? And that... you're still
essentially a child... mimicking the behaviors of the grown-ups all around you so they won't uncover the meager contents of your heart?Do you ever feel that you've had adulthood thrust upon you
at too young an age? And that... you're still
essentially a child... mimicking the behaviors of
the grown-ups all around you so they won't uncover the
meager contents of your heart?

A few minutes in, I thought this is going to be one of these movies that adopt some sort of a false pretense in order to satirize the rich and upper class. Well, as I finished the movie I still think it is. But the story's attempts to dodge clichés surrounding this type of films had me constantly not only striving to classify it, but also quite baffled to know what's the point of it in the first place. Suffice it to say, it meanders a lot, especially regarding its tone which I'm not sure either the first act or Pfeiffer's magnetic performance as the delightfully sardonic Frances Price were enough to set it properly. As I said, it's meandering. And the whimsy of it being turned up to eleven in spasmodic bursts — while perfectly suits the oddball characters and the Anderson-esque style the movie has about it — feels a bit incongruous with the tender and emotive core of the story that I could catch glimpses of as the story progresses and its caustic layer being peeled off sporadically. With some touches that border on surrealism, I believe the movie become very close to going completely off the rails in its latter half to the point of stretching its believability a little too far. But everything was done efficiently and with great panache so much so I couldn't help reconciling myself with whatever this film is trying to achieve and I think I was well rewarded by the end. I finally could figure out what it is about — hopefully. Without getting into details to avoid spoiling anything, I think French Exit is a character study of a woman, Frances Price, who tries to break away from the phony life she leads. She's fundamentally a good and "real" person, but she's confined to the stereotypes of her aristocratic social strata. She takes a huge step towards fulfilling her purpose, only to find that the consequences of such action come arbitrarily and at a time she's neither financially, mentally nor emotionally prepared for, the thing that resulted in her having a midlife crisis of sorts. Lucas Hedges does an excellent job at complementing this with his understated performance as Frances's son, Malcolm. But Pfeiffer really knocked it out of the park here! A bizarre satirical dramedy that might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's definitely worth checking out.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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MagionNov 27, 2022

This great movie is about how the pursuit of being successful and rich can only turn into a fleeting illusion. The film showed that even a little can sometimes be much more than everything.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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