Cheri

Stephen Frears’ latest film, Cheri, is an adaptation of the novel by French writer Colette. I haven’t read the novel myself, so this review is based solely on what was up on the big screen. Michelle Pfeiffer starts as Lea, a retiring courtesan who begins an affair with the young son of her friend, Madame Peloux (played by Kathy Bates). When Madame Peloux arranges a marriage for said son (the eponymous Cheri, played by Rupert Friend) the relationship ends. However, for once, Lea has fallen for one of her conquests, and can only painfully watch from a distance as Cheri begins his new life without her. The acting in this film is fine, with Pfeiffer in particular getting under the skin of Lea, showing both her confidence of a lifetime courting men, but then the cold realisation that as the clock ticks by she can’t have the one person she’s fallen in love with. Kathy Bates doesn’t even need to get out of neutral, let alone first gear, in order to portray a bossy manipulative mother, and Felicity Jones adds good colour as Cheri’s put upon wife. The real problem here though is the character of Cheri himself. There’s nothing wrong with Friend’s portrayal, but Cheri is such a selfish uncaring person, with very few redeemable features, it’s hard to actually invest any real emotion as to what happens to him. Why Lea falls for him, when it seems she could still have any man, any age, is never fully explained. Nor is how she came to be friends with his equally callous mother (though I expect this is explored further in the novel). The last 30 minutes really start to drag and the shock(ish) ending will leave you with nothing more than a shrug of the shoulders. The last time Frears’ directed Pfeiffer was in Dangerous Liaisons, which, much like Pfeiffer, has stood the test of time. Cheri will pretty much be forgotten about the second you leave the cinema.

The OC Film Sting Final Verdict
Watch Dangerous Liaisons again or buy the Cheri book instead (cheaper than a cinema ticket I’m guessing). Rating: 3/10.