Gad Elmaleh, Audrey Tautou, Marie-Christine Adam

Jean (Gad Elmaleh), a shy young bartender, is mistaken for a millionaire by a beautiful, scheming opportunist named Irene (Audrey Tautou). When Irene discovers his true identity, she abandons him, on...( read more  read more... )ly to find that a love-struck Jean has no intention of letting her get away. Jean's comical attempts to gain her affections gradually evolve into setting himself up as a gigolo at a luxury hotel, until Irene finally starts to warm to her persistent, persuasive suitor. Against the wildly atmospheric backdrop of the south of France, Pierre Salvadori (APRES VOUS) directs this sexy and thoroughly charming romantic comedy, which is a fresh re-imagining of the cinema classic, BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S.

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74% liked it

19,009 ratings

Critics

82% liked it

67 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 44 min.

Directed by: Pierre Salvadori

Release Date: November 18, 2006

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DVD Release Date: October 30, 2007

Stats: 2,282 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,282)


  • September 29, 2009
    There's one reason, and one reason only, why I decided to watch this romcom. The reason is Audrey Tautou, one of the most beautiful and talented women in the entertainment business.

    Jean (Gad Elmaleh) is a kind and helpful, somewhat shy, waitress at a hotel. Irene (Tautou), who ...( read more)dreams of a life as a trophy wife, mistakens Jean as a millionaire. This "mistake" ends Irene's current relationship and she decides to make Jean's life miserable. Jean just happens to love the vamp.

    I don't know... 'Hors de Prix' feels sometimes like a fresh breath of air to the romcom genre but there's a few things that bothered me. For instance, the whole "relationship" between them both is a bit far fetched. Because of love, to a woman he hardly knows, Jean lets Irene treat him like crap? Come on!

    There's very little context to a full feature, without making it resemble too much 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'. The subplot, when all of the money is gone, where Irene teaches Jean to become a gigolo, or something like that, is nothing but a filling to a weak story. But thank God that this film has Tautou in it!

    The dialogue is the strongest part of the film. French cinema has always, at least the experience that I have of it, had good written dialogue in 'em. 'Hors de Prix' is no exception. The comedy in the film is very mild but will give some occasional laughter.

    'Hors de Prix' is an ok movie with some good moments but I didn't like the nonexistent chemistry between the two lead characters. More like siblings than lovers... The story brings nothing new to the genre and in the end is very weak. The acting is decent but all I remember of this movie now, when I write down these words, is Audrey Tautou. She is a goddess...
  • May 20, 2009
    So unbelievably cute! This is a French film that is easy to enjoy (no profound deep reflection necessary at its conclusion). I love it!
  • February 9, 2009
    Audrey Hepburn, from the moment the camera catches her in Breakfast at Tiffany?s, exudes charm. Oozes it. Nevermind that she sniffs out money for a living. When she says to George Peppard, ?I?ll tell you one thing, Fred, darling, I?d marry you for your money in a minute,? we wish...( read more) our name was Fred and we wish we were moneyed. And this is the beauty of Breakfast at Tiffany?s: a materialistic, selfish woman melts us to mush. Hepburn made the romantic comedy high art. How did she do that?

    Audrey Hepburn was the most charming woman to grace the screen until the date of her death in 1993. It didn?t take very long for another to claim the mantle. Another Audrey, Audrey Tautou came along in Amélie and gave hope to the romantic comedy. It is no surprise, therefore, that Tautou stars in Priceless, a near remake of Breakfast at Tiffany?s.

    Tautou slinks into the elevator, down to the bar, and lights herself a cigarette in a dress that clings. She?s stunning. Beyond beautiful. That?s how she makes her entrance in Priceless. When she throws a peanut at Jean (Gad Elmaleh) and whispers ?Good evening,? we are just as caught by her as he is. We have to be because Irene (Tautou) slowly stacks up contempt against herself.

    Irene mistakes Jean for a man of means and leaves him when she realizes her mistake. She?s not angry at him for leading her on, merely inconvenienced; however, when she can?t rebound to another millionaire, she becomes out of sorts. Jean hopelessly tries to tell her he loves her, but she is heartless. She bleeds Jean dry even as he tries desperately to win her affection and leaves him when he has nothing left. As she turns to leave, Jean hands her his last euro and asks for ten more seconds. She obliges then walks away. If it was anyone but Audrey Tatou, we would hate her guts. In a bit of chance, Jean (who is now penniless) falls in with a wealthy widow and becomes the male counterpart to Irene. (See the Breakfast at Tiffany?s set-up now?)

    The rest of the movie leaves no doubt that Jean and Irene will end up together because this is a romantic comedy. The way they arrive there is important. Director Pierre Salvadori must be credited with precision. A problem with the majority of romantic comedies currently released resides with their impatience. Characters must fall in love, fall out of love, fall back in love, have a crisis in commitment, and make up in ninety minutes. It strains believability. Not only that, but directors are afraid to let a scene unfold slowly, fearing a lapse in the audiences attention.

    The scene in which Jean and Irene meet, the one by the bar, the one in which Irene mistakes Jean for wealthy, unfolds slowly. Jean is a bartender, in fact. As he fumbles to find something to say to Irene, he humorously asks to make her a drink. She wonders won?t someone from the hotel staff object? (She doesn't realize he's the bartender.) Jean says he?ll say he works for the hotel ? which, of course, he does. The camera allows him to make the whole drink, bit by bit. He makes a cocktail lovingly for her. Irene eyes him, impressed. It?s incredibly romantic. We understand why Jean follows her around for the rest of the movie.

    The other piece of the puzzle that must fall into place is Irene?s realization that Jean is not just a good man but a man she loves. Because this is a smart romantic comedy, it happens throughout the entire movie. There?s the scene in which Tautou fakes being asleep. Jean slides in beside her. Moments later she rolls to him. Too proud to admit she?s awake. Or later when she is clearly jealous that Jean is seeing another woman. Glances, pauses, turns give her away. If only she would just give up the money and go to him!


    When the inevitable conclusion arrives, Irene says to Jean, ?I want to? I?d like to?,? and she sidles up next to him and completes, ?kiss you.? And she does. It?s as exciting as though it were unexpected ? because the woman is Audrey Tautou, and didn?t you know, she?s the screen?s most charming woman.
  • January 11, 2009
    A charming chick flick. If you have to watch one, it might as well be made by the French with Audrey Tautou in the lead (this combo rarely goes wrong). This movie somehow makes you fall in love with completely slimy awful people and want only the best for them in the end.
  • October 6, 2008
    When it comes to romantic comedies, nobody does it better than the French. Their latest rom-com film is "Priceless" starring Audrey Tautou as a gold-digging social climber who falls in love with a bartender.

    The French have created several unforgettable romantic flicks like "Ame...( read more)lie" (the greatest French film imo) and "Paris, je t'aime " (not really that much of a French film but some of the directors are from Paris) so clearly, you can't go wrong with a French romantic film.

    The chemistry between Tautou's character Irene and Elmaleh's Jean is perfect. They just go with each other's flow and doesn't upstage one another. Irene is very much alike Tautou's previous role Amelie but this time the word "Gold Digger" is all over her. You wanna hate her but you can't because she's just too lovable to hate. Jean on the other hand is awkwardly marvelous trying oh so hard to impress his ladylove Irene. His facial expressions are priceless (pardon the pun)

    Priceless is a priceless flick therefore it gets a solid four.
  • November 2, 2009
    romantik komedi sevmiorum ulan!
  • October 25, 2009
    A standard romantic comedy starring one of the most beautiful and charming actresses ever!
  • October 19, 2009
    I like the sexy french lifestyle..and Audrey is sexy as ever..but I just didnt care that much for the story or believe the ending..AT all..lol..Gad was cute so was Vernon Dobtchief and all in it..A lifestyle and way of life I guess. Beautiful places /clothes etc..but is it worth ...( read more)it..NOT to me.
  • October 19, 2009
    Aici, eu am ras, am ras, m-am odihnit putin am mai baut putina apa si am ras din nou, o poveste de dragoste fermecatoare presurata cu zambete :)
  • October 11, 2009
    Very pleasant fil to pass the time, really quite sweet in places too. However it is slow and lacks in the way of laughs. Nice backdrops like.

Critic Reviews


April 18, 2008
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

Pierre Salvadori's delightful comedy, picturesquely set in a series of posh hotels on the French Riviera, throws together two terrific comic actors and an irresistible premise. full review

April 17, 2008
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

The appealing actors make up for the fact that they're portraying prostitutes. They are putting their bodies up for sale, but saving their hearts for true love. After all, that's the only thing that's... full review

April 11, 2008
Ty Burr, Boston Globe

Priceless is a bauble -- an art-house diamond made of paste that somehow still gives you good glimmer for the money. full review

April 4, 2008
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Stop laughing long enough, and you'll see that it's a picture about compromised lives and love for sale. But no one who watches Priceless will stop laughing for that long. full review

March 28, 2008
Marcy Dermansky, About.com

It's not high art, but Pierre Salvadori's sunny romantic comedy Priceless is certainly funny. full review

View more Hors de Prix (Priceless) reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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