‘The Valet’ Review: Winning Remake of French Farce Brings ‘Notting Hill’ Vibes to Tinseltown
variety.comTomris Laffly It’s unlikely that anyone was holding their breath for an English-language reimagining of Francis Veber’s 2006 French hit “La Doublure,” a lovable if trite farce in which a porter and a supermodel fake a romantic relationship in order to prevent a PR disaster.
But with the help of some doting cultural specificity, a charming cast and sunshiny Los Angeles skies, “Come As You Are” director Richard Wong’s “The Valet” proves that a remake can still be a welcome thing these days, even in a world oversaturated with them.Written by Bob Fisher and Rob Greenberg (the duo behind the “Overboard” remake), this sweet-natured and good-humored rom-com-with-a-twist should easily find reasonable streaming success upon its May 20 launch on Hulu.
This version of the story brings its distinctly “Notting Hill” beats to Tinseltown, where the modest and socially awkward Antonio (Mexican star Eugenio Derbez, more widely seen of late as the endearing music teacher in “CODA”) works as a valet, parking the fancy cars of a swanky Beverly Hills establishment’s rich clientele.
Still desperately wooing his ex-wife Isabel (Marisol Nichols), yearning to be a good role model to his son Marco (Joshua Vasquez), and trying not to get too embarrassed by her playful and sexually very active mother that he adores (the legendary Carmen Salinas Lozano, in her final screen role before passing away in December), Antonio spends his days keeping his head down and succumbing to far less than his worth.
Read more on variety.com
