Fridae

It is refreshing to watch a straight movie where the only well-adjusted
characters are the gay ones. In the amusing romantic comedy Russian
Dolls (sequel to The Spanish Apartment), Romain Duris
plays a craggily-handsome writer who is turning 30 and wondering
what is wrong with his life. His career is stalling and his relationships
are short-lived.

He changes girlfriends faster than you can say "serial monogamist?
He turns to his lesbian pal Isabelle (foxy Cecile De France) to
help him get out of this romantic and existential funk. A successful
financial consultant by day, Isabelle rules the boardroom as well
as the bedroom. She is always picking up girls and throwing parties
at her place, and we get to see a long lesbian party sequence with
plenty of dykes. Eventually, Romain comes to grips with himself
and starts to pursue romance seriously once again, this time with
a comely British girl (Kelly Reilly) with issues of her own.

Russian Dolls is a flawed piece of entertainment. It is
structurally uneven and loosely-paced. But things start to pick
up in its second half with some genuinely warm and comic moments.
The young cast (Romain, Cecile, Kelly, among others) is also very
likeable.

Lesbian viewers might enjoy the film more than GBTs because it
stars the super-kawaii and lesbian-friendly Cecile De France
(she also played a lesbian in High Tension/Haute Tension).
There are also other lovely actresses on parade, all of whom have
no qualms about baring their breasts. The movie seems targeted at
straight young male viewers who subscribe to FHM and Maxim.
But it has unwittingly turned to be a film that dykes might enjoy
too.