In a move that trumps self referential cinema at least for as long as it takes to say "campy comedy of manners," Merchant-Ivory Productions, in association with Eat Your Soup Production, brings us this comedy that makes fun of itself. It wouldn't be the first time this outfit, which gave us "Room With a View," has been mocked, to be sure.
"Stiff Upper Lips" in 1997 made Merchant-Ivory the butt of the joke. But "Merci Docteur Rey" snatches back the baton with bitchy finesse. "If anyone is going to make fun of us, we will, thank you very much." Directed and written by Andrew Litvack, the fact that it is actually funny is a big help too.
Quite the ensemble — with Dianne Wiest, resplendant in caftans and complicated millinery as an opera diva named Elisabeth Beaumont, Jane Birkin as a French dubbing actress with a narcissism complex, Simon Callow and with cameos from Jerry Hall, and Vanessa Redgrave.
Set on the trail of a murderer, the story unravels via Beaumont's gay son Thomas. The young turk finds himself in the wrong place at the right time while looking for love with Parisian rent boys. This script would work as a twisted Philip Barry ("The Philadelphia Story") musical.
Litvack's ode to "Pink Panther" with the bumbling Inspector's facial tic, and a running pot brownies gag, while endearing touches, are not some of the movie's best pratfall. Prize for "Best Parody Gag" goes to the closet scene, and its subsequent homage to Brian De Palma's "Dressed to Kill." Close second is the pun involving the movie titles "Howard's End," "Isadora," and "Julia."
Fragemented moments in the film can be blamed on awkward switches from French to English in an otherwise clever and lavishly appointed screwball comedy.
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