Angel-a (15)

Dir: Luc Besson, 2005, France, (88 min)
Jamel Debbouze, Rie Rasmussen, Gilbert Melki
A small-time businessman and compulsive liar, Andre has left a trail of debt across Paris, so now the heavies are on his tail. Beyond hope, he decides to jump off a bridge but, at the decisive moment, spots a beautiful woman attempting the same thing. Following his instinct to rescue her, André finds himself bound to Angela, a strange companion intent on redeeming him and restoring his self-esteem - albeit with a radical approach including pimping and violence.
And it’s this odd couple, the leggy blonde and shuffling schmuck, who underpin Luc Besson’s first film in seven years. Sadly however, despite the evocative black and white cinematography that offers Paris in all its requisite majesty, the chemistry between leads feels more like a forced union than a match made in heaven. The film’s tone also sits uneasily between black comedy and self help, with the script delivering few laughs and fewer surprises. The result is an ultimately underwhelming experience. Kate Taylor