La petite chocolatière: Sweet, but maybe too sticky

Is it worth your time?

If you have a soft spot for black-and-white French comedies where people talk very fast and act very dramatic about nothing, then yeah, sure. You'll probably enjoy the breezy energy. But if you hate movies where the 'romance' feels more like a hostage situation, you’re going to be annoyed by the first twenty minutes. Honestly, it’s a bit of a relic.

Raimu is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. Like, an absurd amount. Every time he’s on screen, the movie suddenly has a pulse. When he’s not there, it’s just people walking through rooms and shouting at each other about chocolate recipes. It’s all a bit thin, isn't it?

There’s this scene in the office that goes on way too long. The lead civil servant is trying to be all dignified, and the girl is just bouncing off the walls like she’s had three espressos. It’s supposed to be funny, but I just felt tired for him. You can actually see the actors wondering where the scene is headed.

I couldn't help but compare it to some other lighter fare like A Kiss for Susie. Both have that same frantic need to be charming. But this one feels a bit more claustrophobic. Maybe it’s just the sets. They feel very... indoor-y.

The whole bit with the chocolate business is just a thin excuse for a plot. It’s not about the candy, really. It’s about how much chaos one person can cause in a room full of suits. I guess that's the point?

• The costumes are surprisingly sharp.
• The dialogue is basically a tennis match with no breaks.
• One of the background actors in the shop scene is clearly just staring at the camera for a solid five seconds.

It reminds me a little bit of the pacing in The Unexpected Father. Just a lot of noise and people running around. Sometimes it works! Sometimes it’s just noise. By the time the third act rolls around, I was mostly just checking the time. It’s not that it’s bad. It’s just... very light. Like a snack that doesn't actually fill you up.

If you're looking for a deep dive into the human condition, go watch Grand Hotel instead. This? This is just fluff. 🍫