Green Card

Directed by Peter Weir, Green Card follows Andie MacDowell’s Brontë Parrish as she agrees to marry Gérard Depardieu’s Georges Fauré so he can stay in the United States (and so she can land an exclusive apartment) – with the narrative detailing the myriad of complications that naturally (and inevitably) ensue. Filmmaker Weir, armed with his own screenplay, delivers a deliberate yet mostly compelling endeavor that benefits from the superb efforts of its two charming stars, as both MacDowell and Depardieu offer up top-notch work that’s heightened by the palpable chemistry between their respective protagonists – which does, as a result, ensure that the will-they-or-won’t-they bent of the movie’s midsection is more effective (and engaging) than one might’ve anticipated. (And it doesn’t hurt, either, that the periphery cast boasts a number of overtly captivating performers, with Bebe Neuwirth’s scene-stealing turn as Brontë’s friend standing as a continuing highlight within the proceedings.) And although the picture’s slightly overlong running time admittedly paves the way for a handful of lulls, Green Card, buoyed by the ongoing inclusion of standout sequences (eg Georges’ confrontation with Brontë’s boyfriend), builds towards a satisfying (and surprisingly open-ended) conclusion that does, in the final analysis, cement its place as an above-average romantic comedy.

*** out of ****

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