Avenue Montaigne

Rating PG13 Formats DVD Genre foreign Starring Cecile De France, Valerie Lemercier, Albert Dupontel, Claude Brasseur, Christopher Thompson, Laura Morante, Sydney Pollackj Directed by Daniele Thompson Publisher THINKFilm External Links Official THINKFilm Website

If you have ever desired to take a trip Paris to take in the sights, Daniele Thompson’s Avenue Montaigne fulfills the desire of taking you through the streets of Paris with beautiful camera angles of the Eiffel Tower and the gorgeous people of Paris that sashay down Avenue Montaigne.

Avenue Montaigne is about Jessica, a lighthearted woman who comes from the provinces of Paris to get a job waiting tables at a stylish café which is kept in business by celebrities and the wealthy people of Paris. This well known café on Avenue Montaigne has not hired a female waitress in 17 years, but due to being understaffed and the busy week that lay ahead of the restaurant, Jessica is hired.

Trying to stay calm, Jessica can’t help but to notice the array of celebrities that dine at the trendy eatery. Her clientèle include a soap opera actress who is trying get the attention of a well-known Hollywood director for her first serious role in his upcoming film, an elderly art collector who is soon to auction off his luxurious art that he has spent years collecting, and a classical pianist whose marriage is on the rocks with his wife who is also his manager.

With her “fly on the wall” personality, Jessica continues to do her job but doesn’t stop herself from engaging in each of the lives of every important person that stops in the restaurant.

Catherine, the soap opera actress who desperately tries to force her way through Hollywood and desires to become taken seriously was quite an annoyance throughout the film. Despite her cantankerous attitude towards her fans everyone adored her, including Jessica.

Jacques, the well-known art collector has spent his life collecting art for personal pleasure, but realizes he would be better off giving up all of his luxurious possessions, because he has no place to store them nor the desire to continue his hobby of accumulating expensive art.

Being a pianist seems to be Jean-François life, but playing with a grand orchestra in front of a large audience is not his desire. He feels that it is not the audience that understands his emotions, but it is the sick and disabled at a local hospital that understand his passion for classical music. His wife, Valentine is upset with his desire for not wanting to play for large audiences because she has signed six years worth of contracts promising his performances to play at various events. During the movie she decides if their marriage is worth salvaging.

The story that Thompson attempts to write and direct about a sweet little French girl who is trying to make a difference in everyone’s life in one way or another, fails. After an hour of taking in the sights of Paris and being introduced to each character of the film and their woes, I began to think how bad this movie really is as I tried to stay awake. The scenery of Paris and the great acting makes up for this cliché story line that never goes anywhere.