St. Ives

St. Ives is an utterly delicious romp. It is charming, funny, and romantic, with momemtary lapses in humour that so many comedies these days seem to lack. It follows the adventures of Jaques St. Ives (played with great skill by Jean-Marc Barr) one of Napolean's hussars. St. Ives, after contriving to get himself demoted in order to escape a number of duels inadvertanly tumbles into a camp of British soldiers and ends up in Scotland as a prisoner of war. There he meets charming Miss Flora and her wordly aunt (Anna Friel and Miranda Richardson) and comes across the uptight Major, played with hilarious British prudishness by Richard E Grant. After a daring escape, a run in with his long lost brother, and a balloon ride, everything settles nicely down to a very happy, sweet ending.

The film is perfectly cast. Jean-Marc Barr traipses through it with suave French heroicism, and Miranda Richardson sparkles as an interesting combination of proper British lady and worldly adventureous. Anna Friel is fresh faced and innocent, her laugh is infectous and Richard E. Grant kept me laughing. Jason Iasacs is also notable as St. Ives' brother.

It is a vividly shot film, with the colours bright and pure, and the soundtrack bounces along in perfect accordance to the light, humourous feel of the movie. In essense, this movie is a miniature feast for the eyes, and the heart.


Fine Words Butter No Parsnips   April 26, 2004
C Ruiz-Esparza (San Francisco, left of Albuquerque)
First of all, to be fair to this little film, I got my movies mixed up and was expecting Bogdanovich's Saint Jack with Ben Gazarra (still easy on the eyes). This mishap may color my review, but you be the judge: this is a nice little movie that could have been a little faster paced for the very likable comedy that drives the script. This is a classic picaresque story with a lot of potential for irony. It is just a little too sentimental in parts and the music kind of dampers it. The cast is good - how can they not be good - they are English. Miranda Richardson and Richard E. Grant have wonderful chemistry together. Jean-Marc Barr is very good, but he is just a little too subtle and sweet. Still, there are some funny lines, like a line about fine words and a comment about articulating a phrase carefully. The costumes and scenery are lovely if sparce. There are worse ways of spending 90 minutes watching movies. It kept a talented crew and cast of actors employed. Stay tuned for a review of the film I thought I was getting.


What a delight!   February 10, 2003
I saw this DVD on a video store rental and couldn't wait to own it for myself.

There's humor, romance, and adventure ... all in a refreshing and unusual mix. The film is full of surprises and delights.

Treat yourself!


What a fun, exciting love story courtesy of Stevenson   February 4, 2003
Stacy E. Tadlock (Roscommon, Michigan United States)
I didn't know about this movie until I saw it in a video store and being a fan of literature adaptations, I rented it. I was so pleasantly surprised to find it to be a fun, exciting romp with lots of great performances. I waited for it to come out on video for sale and when it did I snapped it up. I suggest everyone do the same.


Too silly   January 4, 2003
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Among the few things this flick has going for it are pretty filming locales, lush costumes, warm saturated colors, and golden summer afternoon light. A romp it is, but one that provides neither enough comic relief to be sufficiently entertaining, nor (lighthearted) substance to be engaging or even remotely memorable. "St. Ives" is buffoonery galore. Hints of period piece parody and sprinkles of mild witticisms simply aren't enough to elevate the movie above plain silliness. It isn't an absolute bore per se but too incomplete and predictable to be valued and enjoyed.