Les soeurs Hortensia: A chaotic family trip through time

Is this worth the watch?

Honestly, it depends on how much patience you have for people yelling at each other in fancy rooms. If you’re a fan of the frantic, door-slamming energy of A Pair of Cupids, you’ll probably find some charm here. If you’re looking for something that actually makes sense by the time the credits roll, maybe look elsewhere. 🙄

The whole thing feels like a stage play that someone forgot to edit. The actors are clearly having a blast, even if half the time they seem to be fighting for space in the frame.

Wait, what’s happening?

It’s all about these three sisters, the Hortensias, who are essentially trying to manage their love lives while the world around them turns into a bit of a circus. There’s a lot of running around. There’s a lot of whispering behind fans. It’s light, it’s fluffy, and it’s deeply, deeply silly.

Suzy Delair shows up and pretty much steals whatever scene she wanders into. It’s impressive how she manages to keep a straight face while everyone else is busy tripping over the furniture. There’s one scene in the parlor that goes on for about three minutes too long, and by the end, you can actually see the actors wondering if the director just fell asleep at the monitor.

Small observations from the couch:

• The wardrobe is outrageous. Some of those hats look like they have their own zip codes.
• There’s a background extra in the third act who clearly didn’t know where to stand. He just sort of leans against a wall for ten minutes.
• The sound design is… well, it’s loud. Every time a door shuts, it sounds like a cannon going off.

It doesn’t quite hit the same heights as Emil and the Detectives when it comes to keeping a story tight, but it isn’t trying to be that, either. It’s just trying to be a distraction. In that sense, it works well enough for a lazy Sunday afternoon.

There’s a moment near the middle where the sisters are arguing about a letter, and the rhythm is so fast it’s almost musical. Then, suddenly, the movie stops dead for a long, awkward silence. It’s weird. I liked it.

Don’t go in expecting a masterpiece. Expect a loud, slightly messy, very French comedy that treats its own plot like a suggestion rather than a rule. It’s better than The Constant Simp, but that’s not exactly a high bar, is it? 🤷‍♂️