Chinese Puzzle – love, laughs and lite lagom kaos

I caught “Chinese Puzzle” on a rainy Södermalm evening back when Bio Rio still smelled a bit funny – popcorn mixed with something damp in the carpet, you know? And watching this Xavier (Romain Duris) scramble all over New York, fumbling through his love life, I suddenly remembered that summer I spent doing a crappy language course in Brooklyn. Chaos, doubt and some overpriced bagels – yeah, I can totally relate!

Now, “Chinese Puzzle” is director Cédric Klapisch’s third run-around with this quirky, messy group, after “L’Auberge Espagnole” and “Russian Dolls.” He got Duris, Audrey Tautou, Kelly Reilly and Cécile de France together again. I mean, these actors feel like my old kompisar at this point. Duris is spot on, charmingly confused, and Tautou is as delightful and quirky as ever (though I still miss seeing her in something as gutpunchingly good as Amélie, men men…). Kelly Reilly delivers her usual warmth with a glossy dash of brittiska know-how, and de France, jag säger bara wow, she’s always a bright spot.

But, gotta admit I’m feeling lite splittrad about the movie itself. Some parts breeze by like perfect Sunday-morning fika, lighthearted and genuine, while others feel uncertain, like me trying to ikea-assemble that Hemnes bookshelf without proper coffee fuel or patience. All those twists, turns and accidental pregnancies – I mean, ärligt talat, sometimes less is more, or hur?

Still, “Chinese Puzzle” is heartwarming, surprisingly touching at moments, and makes you kinda long for the unpredictability of being younger, freer, messily figuring life out. A sweet, fun watch – men kanske not something you’d rewatch yearly exactly. Fun med en gång räcker gott och väl.

watch the full movie on CinemaOneMovies on YouTube

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