Rotten Tomatoes

Movies / TV

    Celebrity

      No Results Found

       View All       Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

      Orchestra Seats

      PG-13 Released Feb 16, 2007 1 hr. 45 min. Comedy List
      74% 99 Reviews Tomatometer 70% 10,000+ Ratings Audience Score Jessica (Cécile De France), a young woman from the French provinces, arrives in Paris and takes a job as a waitress at a bistro located amid a theater, concert hall and auction house. From this vantage point, she observes the lives of her famous and not-so-famous clientele, including a classical pianist (Albert Dupontel), an art collector (Claude Brasseur) and an actress (Valérie Lemercier). Read More Read Less
      Orchestra Seats

      What to Know

      Critics Consensus

      A cute and bubbly French comedy that carries no deeper lessons or agendas than to have a little fun for 90 minutes.

      Read Critics Reviews

      Audience Reviews

      View All (406) audience reviews
      Audience Member a relaxing comedy with the bright-eyed Cécile de France... Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member one of our all time favorite movies. life Co sensed to one block in Paris. incredible Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Watchable but why bother. Much ado about nothing. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member An enjoyable Parisian montage of the vivid lives along the Avenue Montaigne (a chic blend of 5th Ave, Ginza & the Lincoln Center). the sprightly waitress brings the show together with fluid elfin glee, but 'twas the midlife pianist who was most touching in his performance. overwhelmed by his tight schedule and stiff collar, he threatens his livid wife/agent/secretary/promoter with a secluded life in a log cabin, but as he loosens his collar and rediscovers his passion for music, and what good he can do through his talent, so too do they learn to rediscover their love and warmth. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/11/23 Full Review Audience Member "Avenue Montaigne" is one of those films that manages to warm your heart and make your day, even if it isn't grande cinema. For me, there's always that once in a while where you get a film that's entertaining and funny, and "Avenue Montaigne" is just that. It has the vibrancy of a Technicolor Godard movie from the '60s, along with a sweet sense of humor that sets an artistic but frothy tone (which isn't a bad thing at all). The stories, all intertwining, are enjoyable and simple. It's like a Robert Altman ensemble comedy minus the irony or complicated dialogue-- and it's a lot breezier. You could say "Avenue Montaigne" is as lovely as the city it takes place in: Paris. The film revolves around Jessica (Cecilé de France), an optimistic young woman who moves to Paris from the small town of Mâcon, hoping to get a fresh start. While the first few days are hard for her (she doesn't manage to find a place to live or a job), she eventually gets a job at a stylish café. Because her new job is in the heart of an artistic community, through her job she meets a handful of people that are going through big changes in their lives. There's Jean-François (Albert Dupontel), a celebrated concert pianist who wants nothing more than to quit big, classical music concerts; there's aging actress Catherine (Valérie Lemercier), who's stuck doing a soap opera and a limiting play when she wants to be a film actress; and then there's Jacques (Claude Brasseur), an art collector that's dying while also trying to reconnect with his son (Christopher Thompson). By the end, everything is resolved, and it makes us feel happy that everything works out. The cast of "Avenue Montaigne" seems to be having a good time-- whether or not their character is shallow or nice, everyone gives it their all with a lot of pay off. If we didn't have a cast as dedicated and charismatic as this one, would the film be the same? I don't think so. But it's a delight to watch everyone bustling around, just figuring out life; and while this could be boring, none of the stories every sag. In films with multiple stories like this one, there always should be one that isn't as good as the other ... but that isn't the case here. All of them are equally entertaining and fun, and it's great how something so good-natured and sweet can be predictable without being cloying. Much of it is enjoyable; I loved seeing the goofy, slight bonkers but old Claudie (Dani) lip-synch to old French songs while reliving her past, and when Catherine defies her play director and changes the play she's starring in into the way she wants to-- on opening night. But there are also quite a few poetic moments, as when Jessica stands with melancholy in the rain, looking into the atmosphere, or when Jean-François plays the piano for a group of sickly hospital patients. "Avenue Montaigne" hits the combination of dramatic and funny perfectly, to the point where it's sincere and quite touching. The key to the film though, is France. Though there are certainly a few standouts here, especially Lemercier, France carries the movie. I've always really liked her-- her pixie hair, crooked smile and curious eyes make her an intriguing beauty, and she maintains to be lovable in nearly all her films. This one shows her at her best. Her spirited and likable characterization of Jessica serves not only as a connector to all of the stories involved, but as the most winning part of the film. "Avenue Montaigne" may be fluffy, but it's good fluff. It's never sappy; it moves along with energy and slight wit that amuse us more than it should. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member We really enjoyed revisiting this. It's witty, observant, and explores themes of money, art and love. Especially, love. Characters are well-drawn and plausible, and the tale is played fairly straight with the comedy incidental rather than being the intention. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

      Show Less Cast & Crew Show More Cast & Crew

      More Like This

      View All Best Movies to Stream at Home
      76% 69% My Best Friend 71% 68% The Valet 55% 67% Last Holiday TRAILER for Last Holiday 34% 51% The Nanny Diaries 5% 52% Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

      Photos

      View All Orchestra Seats photos

      Orchestra Seats

      A scene from the film "Avenue Montaigne." A scene from the film "Avenue Montaigne." View more photos

      Critics Reviews

      View All (99) Critics Reviews
      Josh Rosenblatt Austin Chronicle This is one of the wonders of Paris, I imagine, or at least of being rich in Paris: Even your misery plays like a fairy tale. In Avenue Montaigne, miserable souls are as common as raindrops, and each one is a portrait of privileged existentialism. Rated: 3/4 Apr 26, 2007 Full Review Peter Howell Toronto Star A film that seeks to amble it way towards resolution and which offers a few insights and smiles along the way. Rated: 2.5/4 Apr 20, 2007 Full Review Roger Moore Orlando Sentinel Even if this fine French meal isn't as rich or feels a little less than it might have been, it's still delightful to sit through, course after winning course. Rated: 4/5 Apr 20, 2007 Full Review Felicia Feaster Charleston City Paper Thompson's simplistic argument about wealth and poverty doesn't exactly inspire strong emotions, despite some well-crafted filmmaking and an urban prettiness reminiscent of Woody Allen's honey-dripping Manhattan locales. Jan 28, 2020 Full Review Troy Patterson Spin Because the movie -- bright as a postcard and flooded with music ranging from richest Beethoven to bittersweet ballads -- is enchanting at its core, the creaky plot doesn't matter that much. Rated: 3/4 Oct 25, 2019 Full Review Dorothy Woodend The Tyee (British Columbia) There is a complicated centre to this confection, but the magic that is Paris comes wafting through like sweet perfume. Aug 23, 2017 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis Jessica (Cécile De France), a young woman from the French provinces, arrives in Paris and takes a job as a waitress at a bistro located amid a theater, concert hall and auction house. From this vantage point, she observes the lives of her famous and not-so-famous clientele, including a classical pianist (Albert Dupontel), an art collector (Claude Brasseur) and an actress (Valérie Lemercier).
      Director
      Danièle Thompson
      Screenwriter
      Danièle Thompson, Christopher Thompson
      Distributor
      ThinkFilm
      Production Co
      Thelma Film AG, TF1 Films Productions, Studio Canal
      Rating
      PG-13 (Some Strong Language|Brief Sexuality)
      Genre
      Comedy
      Original Language
      French (Canada)
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Feb 16, 2007, Limited
      Release Date (DVD)
      Jul 17, 2007
      Box Office (Gross USA)
      $2.0M
      Sound Mix
      Dolby