Clever is not the same thing as satisfying when it comes to “Russian Dolls,” writer-director Cédric Klapisch’s sequel to his 2002 romp, “L’Auberge Espagnole.”
Five years have passed since protagonist Xavier (Romain Duris) ditched a future in business to study abroad in Barcelona, where he learned thatwhat he really wanted to do was write.
The novel Xavier penned, “L’Auberge Espagnole,” has yet to be published. But the 30-year-old Parisian does make a living of sorts. He writes magazine profiles, the occasional article, and a spec script for a saccharine television series.
The gang’s all here from the crowded boarding house in “L’Auberge.” Or at least they’re all in St. Petersburg for the wedding of William (Kevin Bishop) and Natasha.
If you saw “L’Auberge,” you’ll recall that William and his sister Wendy (Kelly Reilly) were two of Klapisch’s better characters. They’re central here too.
Audrey Tatou returns as Martine, Xavier’s former love. In the years since returning from Spain, Xavier’s love life has been intermittent. He’ll show us why.
For all of Xavier’s attempts at romance, it’s William’s love for a Russian ballerina that provides the movie’s sweetest moment.
In 2002, Cécile De France won a César for her portrayal in “L’Auberge” of Isabelle, Xavier’s lesbian roommate. She, too, is back and just as impressive a screen presence. But she has little to do, beyond pretending to be Xavier’s fiancée for a visit to his grandfather’s. It gets old, arguing with your girlfriends and catting around.
“Russian Dolls” feels fractured. Some of this is willful. The film begins near its conclusion in Russia then circles back with Xavier telling us how he got to this place in his life.
Klapisch likes to play. He and alter ego Xavier are fond of stories within stories, little flights of fancy. When Xavier starts to spin a yarn – to his bank officer, to his bosses at a television station – an image of him will appear, playing what he calls a “merry tune.”
Intentional or not, many of Klapisch’s tricks frustrate our connection to the characters, especially Xavier.
In “L’Auberge,” Xavier and his friends lived their 20s on their sleeves. Though not a perfect ride, the movie had flashes of youthful feeling. Xavier’s 20-something self-obsession could be forgiven.
Now he’s 30. It’s an age of reckoning. He senses it and so do we. But the glue of Xavier’s ego and evasions can’t hold this film together.
“Don’t be afraid of clichés,” a clique of TV execs tell Xavier after reading his script.
“Don’t be afraid of feeling,” might be our advice to Klapisch and his hero.
“Russian Dolls” | ** RATING
NOT RATED|2 hours, 5 minutes|COMEDY| Written and directed by Cédric Klapisch; photography by Dominique Colin; starring Romain Duris, Audrey Tatou, Cécile de France, Kelly Reilly, Kevin Bishop, Evguenya Obraztsova |Opens today at the Starz FilmCenter.
