Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Friend, Kathy Bates

An adaptation of the 1920s novel by French author Colette about the lingering effects of a romance between a middle-aged woman (Pfeiffer) and a wealthy young man (Friend). Set in 1920s Paris, where th...( read more  read more... )e young son of a wealthy courtesan (Bates) is educated in the ways of love by a middle-aged friend of the man's mother. When he is forced to give up the six-year relationship after marrying someone else, the young man can't forget her and retreats into a fantasy world.

Flixster Users

43% liked it

1,266 ratings

Critics

54% liked it

115 critics

R, 1 hr. 40 min.

Directed by: Stephen Frears

Release Date: June 26, 2009

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DVD Release Date: October 20, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (439)


  • September 30, 2009
    I loved this movie, if you like to watch beautiful people, in beautiful clothes and beautiful places, behaving badly than Cheri is the movie for you.
  • July 24, 2009
    Cheri is set in pre World War 1 France and aging courtesan Lea (Michelle Pfeiffer) and pampered dandy Cheri (Rupert Friend) form an unlikely romance. What begins as a fascination soon develops into a passionate, yet clandestine love affair that lasts six years.

    Charlotte (Kath...( read more)y Bates) plays Cheri's mother, who surmises to Lea that there is only one thing missing from her life of luxurious hotels, dutiful servants and opulent surrounding -- grandchildren. Charlotte plans a wedding for Cheri and a lovely 18-year-old daughter of another courtesan rival, tearing Cheri and Lea apart.

    Cheri is a beautiful, lavish film that is touching, yet understated. Lea is a woman in the throes of a once-in-a-lifetime passion - but underlying all that is the sense of someone who really knows herself. It's a virtue of maturity wholly lacking in Cheri, as a young man in no position to know his own heart, because he doesn't know himself.

    There's something in this film--anyone who has ever fallen in love with someone they just could not have is something poignant and deeply moving, and even a sign of perhaps defeat?

    I read the book many years ago, and I appreciate both the film and the book but there were some distinct differences and I found merit in those differences. The film is more lyrical and emotional while the book was a lot more restrained, subtle and made you consider the issues more. My theory is that when you read the book and watch the film you get everything you can out of that story, the intellectual part and the human emotional part.

    Also if you have read the book first it is sometimes hard not to be disappointed by the film. Sometimes it is hard to break that down. But books and films are different artforms and you have to expect different things to happen.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCUdEXqiNZ0
  • July 22, 2009
    Though this movie is not groundbreaking, the film is beautiful, with lavish sets and costumes that give the film visual flair. Also, Michelle Pfeiffer is great.
  • October 4, 2009
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    Chéri was a emotional movie of Stephen Frears,with colorful costumes and breathtaking scenes. The characters were well played, espec...( read more)ially Chéri and Lea, played by Rupert Friend and Michelle Pfeiffer.I cared for them in the movie, I wanted to see them happy. Apart that it was a love story, it showed the fear of aging. Michelle Pfeiffer's acting was excellent, and she showed in here how beautiful a woman can be even aging, but she knew she cant make him happy and had to let go.It was a enjoyable movie to watch.
  • November 2, 2009
    Emotional, different and worth seeing!
  • October 31, 2009
    Loved it! One that I will add to my personal movie collection.
  • October 30, 2009
    Michelle did an awesome job as always! And the movie is great with her incredible performance but there's something lacking in it! Maybe the story itself isn't so touching and sensitive, anyway, the love story isn't the best thing I ever saw but still very enjoyable.
  • October 25, 2009
    At times reminded me of the impressionists works like Renoir, Monet, Pissaro, and so on, it's only fair since "La belle epoque" was the moment when Impressionism as cultural movement arised and developed. But, unfortunately, I don't think this movie will leave any long lasting i...( read more)mpressions.
    The cinematography is beautiful, but the story and the characters, not so much.
    The love story between a young man an a older woman, don't know that doesn't feel to appealing, especially if the movie ends on depressing note, and the trailer was trying to sell this as a comedie.
    Michelle Pheiffer is tolerable as Tea de Lonval, a great beauty that used to turn men mad with desire, now on the descending way of her "career".
    Rupert Friend-not good, nor bad, average. The same as the movie, but I liked the irony at the end, and I liked it better then the borefest and greatly overrated "The queen".
  • October 25, 2009
    Michelle still looks astonishing. But there's way too much talking and the film is not passionate enough. Not much sex scenes either.
  • October 24, 2009
    Great film. I love historical movies and this was a really good one

Critic Reviews


June 27, 2009
Pete Hammond, Back Stage

Modestly engaging story is enriched by delicious acting to become a good adult alternative to Transformers and Hogwarts this summer. full review

June 26, 2009
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Chéri is a sad, intelligent film about coming of age late in life, looking in the mirror and wondering, "What happened?" full review

June 26, 2009
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Chéri is a perfect example of a movie that gets many of the details right and the vibe all wrong. full review

June 26, 2009
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

This wonderfully gifted actress, whose beauty has sometimes distracted from her abilities, here makes Cheri something rare and haunting. full review

June 26, 2009
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Cheri, like the character, is an entertaining bauble without much on its mind. full review

June 26, 2009
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

[Pfeiffer's] latest film, Cheri, finds her at the height of her ability, in a role worthy of her maturity and emotional intelligence. full review

June 26, 2009
Mick LaSalle, Houston Chronicle

[Pfeiffer's] latest film, Cheri, finds her at the height of her ability, in a role worthy of her maturity and emotional intelligence. full review

June 25, 2009
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

If the movie were better -- less swoony, more relentless -- it might be unbearable to watch. As it is, Cheri touches on the insecure egotism of courtesans and movie stars with a knowing firmness. full review

June 25, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

The success of Stephen Frears' film Chéri begins with its casting. full review

June 25, 2009
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

With Pfeiffer, 50, radiating uncommon beauty, grace and feeling, Frears uncovers a fragile story's grieving heart. full review

View more Cheri reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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