DELICACY

Audrey Tautou, Francois Damiens, Bruno Todeschini

"Love can surprise you."

This French rom-com stars Audrey Tautou of "Amelie" fame in yet another saccharine girl meets boy love story. But before girl and boy have their happily ever after ending, there are a few obstacles. Little awkward, quirky turns that aren't too complicated or dramatic to muddle the sure fire conclusion that they belong in each other's arms.

Audrey Tautou plays Nathalie, who is utterly devastated when her beloved husband dies unexpectedly. She becomes a workaholic, plunging herself into her office job and fending off the unwanted advances of her boss. But one day, for reasons only Nathalie knows, she throws herself at a somewhat boorish, clumsy Swedish co-worker named Markus (Francois Damiens), and the rest of the movie consists of their tentative, and interesting courtship.

In as much as the trauma and ongoing adjustment of someone losing a spouse is very much downplayed in this movie, I think they wanted to concentrate on the unusual romance between Nathalie and Markus. Their 'beauty and the beast' office romance has some funny moments. I suppose it is charming to see a cute, perky woman fall for a very plain man. Both of them are amused and bewildered by their love affair. Despite his very ordinary appearance, Markus is quite funny and the fact that Nathalie actually gets and laughs at his jokes should count for something. Well in my books, it does.

Audrey Tautou is excellent as Nathalie, generating a palpable chemistry with Damiens that enables us to see what she sees in him, even if nobody else sees it. This lightweight romantic comedy was perfect for a stormy day viewing tucked in bed with a warm blankie.