Love Is All You Need

Yet another wedding-themed romantic comedy, Susanne Bier’s Love Is All You Need thankfully eschews the crass hi-jinks of its recent predecessors to produce something far more entertaining: a tale featuring actual characters and a wealth of charm.

Pierce Brosnan and Trine Dyrlholm put in nuanced performances as soon-to-be in-laws Philip and Ida, meeting for the first time on the way to their children’s nuptials in a picturesque Italian villa. Ida, recovering from cancer and reeling from having caught boorish husband Leif (Kim Bodnia) at it with the office bimbo, is drawn to the outwardly cold and pompous Philip. But Aunt Benedikte (the wonderful Paprika Steen) wants a bit of Bond for herself…

Gorgeously shot in idyllic locations, the dynamic between the older players is heartfelt, witty and often surprising as the two families collide. Bier’s picture bites-off more than it can chew with the younger generation’s narrative arc, their trite and predictable crises feeling superfluous within a hefty two hour runtime. However, pacing aside, this really is quite delightful. [Chris Fyvie]