Jeux d'enfants 2003

Robert K. Elder, Chicago Tribune: It's a pitch-black, Grimm Brothers-style fable that enchants, frustrates and ultimately dares you to love it. Even if you don't, you'll be riveted. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: Movie characters don't have to be nice, but they do need to be interesting. Nastiness without intrigue translates, in whatever language, to 'annoying.' Read more

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: There's an outlaw fascination in watching two people for whom going too far is never far enough. Read more

Bill Muller, Arizona Republic: Melds the magic of childhood memories with the pain of unrequited love. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: Someday, when Samuell finds something to say, he may make a great movie. For now, he's only playing games. Read more

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: For all of Samuell's imaginative cinematic bravura, it is, finally, mainly exasperating. Phooey on Julien and Sophie's excruciating l'amour fou. Read more

Houston Chronicle: Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: The award for the most annoying character to appear in a movie so far this year turns out to be a tie: It goes to both of the oh-so-swankly tormented romantic mischief makers of Love Me if You Dare. Read more

Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News: The elegantly photographed, unconventional French romance was apparently intended as a valentine to individual liberation. If so, rarely has the line between individual liberation and selfish irresponsibility seemed so blurry. Read more

Ella Taylor, L.A. Weekly: The rueful ghost of Francois Truffaut hovers over writer-director Yann Samuell's wonderfully capricious tale of Gallic lovers with no idea of when to say finis. Read more

Jan Stuart, Newsday: Fetishizes one couple's mating game at the expense of anyone unlucky enough to be in their path. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: The sort of heavy-handed fantasy that gives 'insufferable whimsy' a bad name. Read more

Jack Mathews, New York Daily News: If you're able to take Love Me as a black comedy and suspend disbelief about the couple's mutual humiliations, it can be great fun. Read more

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer: It is not to be missed. Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: Only the French, those self-proclaimed sages of 'l'amour fou,' would dream of concocting a surreal romantic allegory like Yann Samuell's grown-up fairy tale. Read more

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: Love Me If You Dare is far from everybody's cup of latte, but for those willing to take that dare, it has plenty to chew on. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The performances by Canet and Cotillard are wonderful; these two make one of the most delightful screen couples in recent years. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Strangely frustrating, because Julien and Sophie choose misery and obsession as a lifestyle, and push far beyond reason. Read more

Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle: It stretches to the snapping point the French tendency to forgive lovers' transgressions, while presenting as love interests a pair of cretins whose casual cruelty and immature antics render them entirely loathsome. Read more

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read more

Rick Groen, Globe and Mail: Apparently, the idea of their passion is enough to save them from a life of boredom -- if only it had the same happy effect on us. Read more

Susan Walker, Toronto Star: Has all the visual attributes and surface charm of Amelie. Read more

Time Out: Read more

Lisa Nesselson, Variety: Valiant attempt to create a modern fairytale ends up being frustratingly creepy instead of haunting and memorable. Read more

David Ng, Village Voice: Fans of Amelie will rejoice in the film's CGI-aided flights of fancy; all others will groan audibly and often as director Yann Samuell piles on the Nutrasweetened visuals. Read more

Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: In this toxic tale of young psychopaths in love, the stylish, often stunning visuals are ultimately outmatched by the repellent protagonists at the story's center. Read more