Review

A vivid and whimsical romance in the tradition of Amélie, director Samuell's colorful debut feature focuses on childhood friends Julien and Sophie and the little tin can that inspires decades of an embarrassing, challenging and often dangerous "game." Whoever holds the tin can must complete the other's dare and this little symbolic anecdote has the power to keep these two destined lovers chasing after each other until they can finally dare to admit to their feelings and commit. However, this is an intricate and time-consuming process, for we grow up with Julien and Sophie (the adult characters played by the charming and always engaging Canet and Cotillard) and travel into their thirties, their tainted love causing chaos and broken hearts wherever the little tin can travels. During the middle of the feature, Love Me If You Dare does lose a bit of its magic, at times an Amélie wanna-be instead of standing on its own, but the conclusion is satisfying and there is an accomplished hilarity in the big picture that this turns out to be. There are dark elements that take away from the candy-coated scenes, but for the most part the film tends to be sweet, ironic, touching and enchanting. (French with English subtitles)

 -- Chris Lombardi