After a run of mediocre to bad Hollywood films this French ensemble piece was a breath of fresh air. OK so it's a bit long and indulgent in places but it still feel like a gourmet burger after a McDonalds.
A group gathers around their friend's hospital bed as he recovers from a serious road traffic accident. They debate whether they should still go on their annual group holiday or not. And essentially that's what they do, go on holiday.
But each has a secret, something they are not being honest about. So they laugh, they have fun, they argue, get on each others nerves and all the time the pack of white lies they have built starts to look more and more precarious. It take one tragic event to bring the whole lot tumbling down and make them all face up to a few home truths.
There aren't any great shocks if that is what you are expecting, it is more of a slow burn, but it is funny, engaging and the ending packs an emotional punch (and it made me want to go on holiday to France and drink wine over-looking the sea). It also stars some of the cream of French acting talent not least being the wonderful Marion Cotillard.
I'm giving it 58%. On Rotten Tomatoes the 23 critics gave it an average of 48% while the site's user rating was much higher at 67%. It isn't listed on Metacritic.
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