Bed and Board (1970)

Mildly amusing Truffault rom-com about Antoine Doinel,  a Parisan florist, and his life with his pregnant wife Christine. As usual, the location shots of 1970 Paris are always a plus, and there's a sweet and charming tone to this French Rom-com. 

 Unfortunately, Rom-coms (and Domestic comedies) depend on the personality of their leads, and while Claude Jade is quite good as "Christine" - Jean-Pierre Léaud (as Antoine) is such a scrawny little wuss its impossible to care about him. And one point, this wimp takes his shirt off, and all I could say was: "Ugh, that's pathetic, dude.  Hit the Gym." I think Woody Allen could have beat him up. And I'm talking about 2021 Woody.

So, he kept taking me out of the movie.

And this set me to thinking about what draws us to movies. In the old days,  Movie execs used to think women were all hot for Cary Grant or William Powell and that's why they were watching their movies. But when they did some research they found out that women actually were watching the Thin Man series because they loved Myrna Loy.  Or because they loved Irenne Dunne with Cary Grant. IOW, women identified with the female stars. And the men identify with male stars. And that's what drew them to the films.  

And we don't want to see a member of "our sex" let down the side when its a Rom Com or Romance film.  As a man, I kept focusing on the male lead. And that's why I had such a negative reaction to Jean-Pierre Léaud.  I could not identify with this guy.  He was too wimpy and unattractive. I kept thinking, Hell,  I could have taken Claude Jade away from this guy.

So, anyway, despite all the good scenes. And the first 50 minutes was very charming,  I can't give the film a high rating.  The awful male lead just spoiled it.