Love Is All You Need

Sony Pictures Classics | Release Date: May 3, 2013

7.0	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 29 Ratings

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BHBarryMay 9, 2013

“Love is All You need” stars Pierce Brosnan and Trine Dyrholm in this semi-foreign language film with its locations in both Denmark and Italy. Perhaps the third star of the film is the Amalfi coast of Italy where most of the scenes take“Love is All You need” stars Pierce Brosnan and Trine Dyrholm in this semi-foreign language film with its locations in both Denmark and Italy. Perhaps the third star of the film is the Amalfi coast of Italy where most of the scenes take place. To those who have experienced this magnificent part of the world, and even for those who haven’t, the photography is breathtaking as the camera takes us into the lives of the characters in this romantic comedy ably directed by Susanne Bier (“In a Better World”) with a wonderful screenplay co-written by Ms. Bier and Anders Jensen. As good as Mr. Brosnan is in the film, and he is, none of the players can meet or even come near the superb acting talents of Ms. Dyrholm who captures and dominates each scene she is in. The best that can be said of any quality foreign film is that, in recalling it, the viewer forgets that there were subtitles and that a different language was spoken. This is not a remake of Mamma Mia with songs and virtually no plot. Instead, to the background singing of Dean Martin, Ms. Bier creates a delightful cinematic experience despite the serious problems, both healthwise and domestically, that the principals encounter. I give this film an 8 and suggest that those who see it will be glad they did. … Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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PJPJJun 1, 2013

Lovely film. Kind of a more serious Mama Mia, but in Italy without songs and better emotional exchange. I'd go back again just to see the Amalfi coast on big screen again.

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TVJerryJun 14, 2013

This is actually a Danish film with a mostly Danish cast (and sporadic subtitles), but the one international name is Pierce Brosnan. He plays a closed-off widower who travels to Italy for his son's wedding, only to find himself falling forThis is actually a Danish film with a mostly Danish cast (and sporadic subtitles), but the one international name is Pierce Brosnan. He plays a closed-off widower who travels to Italy for his son's wedding, only to find himself falling for the mother of the bride (Tryne Dyrholm). While some of the plotting and characters seem a tad overdone, the basic story is a predictable, but appealing romance. The focal character is really Dyrholm's and she gives an engaging performance (as does the rest of the cast). The lovely seaside scenery adds to the charms of this sweet summer trifle.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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GreatMartinJun 4, 2013

“Love Is All You Need” is a beautiful movie. Starting with the opening scene where you see beautiful Danish actress Trine Dyrholm, who is absolute perfection and an absolute joy to watch as, from head to toe, she gives meaning to each gesture“Love Is All You Need” is a beautiful movie. Starting with the opening scene where you see beautiful Danish actress Trine Dyrholm, who is absolute perfection and an absolute joy to watch as, from head to toe, she gives meaning to each gesture and is mesmerizing on screen to her co-star Pierce Brosnan, who is not only aging handsomely but also delivers a strong performance allowing her to shine.

Ida (Dyrholm) has just finished her last chemo dose and, being a hairdresser, has fixed herself a great wig to wear to her daughter Astrid’s (Molly Blixt Egelind) wedding in Italy and approaching the airport she meets the father of the groom Patrick, (Sebastian Jessen) Philip, (Brosnan) by backing her car into his. It isn’t long before Ida and Philip realize they are becoming family. Philip had lost his wife years earlier in a senseless accident while Ida, coming home from the hospital that day, found her husband Leif (Kim Bodnia) having sex with his accountant Tilde (Christiane Schaumburg-Muller) who brings her to the wedding.

The wedding is going to be held in Philip’s country home. Beautiful is the only word to use to describe the seaside town of Sorrento as the camera lingers over the water, coves, sunrises, sunsets, lemon tree groves, houses and Dyrholm’s face and body. Philip’s sister-in-law, Benedikte, (Paprika Steen) has been in love with him and provides humor no matter how much it humiliates her.

“Love Is All You Need” is a romantic comedy that is filled with lots of romance supplied by Dyrholm and Brosnan and the comedy by Schaumburg-Muller, Steen and Bodnia. Micky Skeel Hansen as the brother of the bride, along with the other young actor, provide the ups and downs needed in a film of this genre and it was surprising to me that the audience was so surprised, and expressed it, at one turn of events.

The film was directed by Susanne Bier who also wrote the screenplay with Anders Thomas Jensen and a deep bow to the director of photography Morten Soborg. The film will make you want to get on the next plane to Sorrento. Opening with Dean Martin singing “That’s Amore” it is heard constantly through the film blending in with the scenery.

Bald, wearing a wig, having her own short hair, dressed in red or coming out of the water completely nude, Trine Dyrholm is a sight to behold. Hopefully this movie will get a much wider play to introduce her to a larger audience while they watch a touching romantic comedy. See it--see her!… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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foxgroveMay 3, 2013

Love is all you need is a captivating and enchanting film. A romantic drama that, for once, is honestly written with believable characters and situations the result of which is an emotional joy that only the most jaded cynics will scoff at.Love is all you need is a captivating and enchanting film. A romantic drama that, for once, is honestly written with believable characters and situations the result of which is an emotional joy that only the most jaded cynics will scoff at. Of course there are a few contrivances and cliche's (the cheating husband is the most glaring culprit), but director Susanne Bier elicits beautiful performances from her entire cast with Pierce Brosnan and Trine Dyrholm leading the way. Returning to Italy after the debacle that was 'Mama Mia', Brosnan turns in arguably his best ever performance and Dyrholm is just radiantly wonderful. I have to say that I really had low expectations for this film, but it is a total delight. You also get the ending you want and one the film earns.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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LeZeeDec 20, 2013

Surprisingly this movie expelled all my expectations. It was a simply good movie with nice characters and places, not an awesome-awesome one though. So diverse romance-drama told in the perspective of the elder people's beginning of a newSurprisingly this movie expelled all my expectations. It was a simply good movie with nice characters and places, not an awesome-awesome one though. So diverse romance-drama told in the perspective of the elder people's beginning of a new relationship. It is a predictable plot so there's no surprise twists at all. From the director of 'In a Better World' this movie narrates the story of a widower and a hairdresser whose husband is cheating on her.

A widower businessman in his 50s probably is preparing to attend his son's wedding in abroad. In other side of the story a woman who successfully completed her cancer treatment as well getting ready to attend her daughter's wedding in Italy. In an accident these two meet at the airport. With a little discomfortable at beginning they start to like each other. For the sake of children these two must sacrifice what they have found within them. So the lives goes on as it forced them to move along with it.

Extraordinary performances by Pierce Brosnan and a woman on his counterpart character called Ida was awesome. I can't finish this review without mentioning the bride, she looked so pretty. Sadly it was not her story. The seaside locations in Italy were beautiful, played a crucial role in the movie's pleasant presentation. They shot it at the right season I guess because it was alluring. Everyone might not enjoy the movie because it deals about older people's romance and I am not old but I liked it.… Expand

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ClariseSamuelsJan 19, 2014

This 2012 Danish import starring Pierce Brosnan is subtitled, although Brosnan’s character Philip, the widower of a Danish woman, understands Danish but does not choose to speak it, which is why he can work in Denmark and have everyone aroundThis 2012 Danish import starring Pierce Brosnan is subtitled, although Brosnan’s character Philip, the widower of a Danish woman, understands Danish but does not choose to speak it, which is why he can work in Denmark and have everyone around him speaking Danish. English is the lingua franca of Scandinavia, so his coworkers understand him when he answers them in English. It reminds me of Montreal, where the French and English can have whole conversations in two languages, each person understanding the other language but refusing to speak it. About half the film is in English and the other half is subtitled. Philip is en route to see his son get married in Italy, and although he acts flippant and self-confident, he has never completely recovered from his wife’s death. The mother of the bride, Ida, played by Trine Dyrholm, has just finished cancer treatment and is still wearing a wig. Her rather insensitive husband, Leif (Kim Bodnia), is cheating on her, claiming that the stress of her illness drove him to it. However, Leif takes infidelity to new heights when he brings his girlfriend to his daughter’s wedding, introducing her to everyone as his fiancee, which was news to his wife.

This should be a fiasco, but Brosnan’s character Philip is saintly and loving, and he somehow brings both families together, even though it’s not clear that his son and Ida’s daughter are right for each other, having known each other for only three months. The affianced couple plans to take up residence in a beautiful old mansion that has a flourishing lemon grove, a rather magical landscape and the house that Philip would have moved into if his wife hadn’t died. In spite of the fact that the wedding plans for the young couple turn out to be disastrous, a tentative and shy romance begins between Philip and Ida. They are both middle-aged, and they have both been wounded by the vicissitudes of life.

I suspect Brosnan did not have to muster up a lot of acting skills for this role, for it seems to reflect the essence of who he is in real life. Like Philip, he has lost close family members and like Philip, he seems to be a beautiful soul who is mostly forgiving and always finding the best in people. In real life Brosnan worries about the fate of the whales and the fate of the Haitians. He’s a doting husband and a loving father. Back in 1998, Brosnan was here in Montreal filming Grey Owl. My son’s summer camp counselor at the YMCA got a job as Brosnan’s assistant—she was an average-looking skinny college kid with a head of thick curls, who never wore a speck of make-up. Brosnan was so kind to her that after the movie wrapped and he returned home, he kept in touch with her by phone. That stunned me. “You get phone calls from Pierce Brosnan?” I asked with disbelief one summer afternoon. “Yup. That’s just the way he is,” she replied with a shrug. Wow. A movie star who gets attached to the humblest people who work with him. Like I said, I don’t think Brosnan had to do a lot of acting when he played the kindhearted and magnanimous Philip.… Expand

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TheBadTouchOct 11, 2013

Very well directed in that it sidesteps the silliness associated with staying true to a sentiment amidst a full cast of characters. Pierce Brosnan is a veteran entertainer.

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NRNSWMay 10, 2015

This film is visually stunning (both technically and locations) and the story is really strong from start to finish. The characters are all identifiable and the end result is a warm, lovely film.

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