Tamara Drewe

This is a light British 2010 comedy about an attractive female writer/journalist, Tamara Drewe, who returns to her native village to oversee the sale of her recently deceased mother's house.

Tamara is played by Gemma Aterton, who also appeared in Gemma Bovery.

Gemma Aterton

Predictably, romantic complications ensue, some of them involving a serial philanderer neighbor and best seller author, whose long suffering wife is played by Tamsin Greig of Black Books, Green Wing, Love Soup and Episodes fame. The wife runs a writer's retreat, which makes for some more interesting characters and developments.

Tamsel Greig

The machinations of two bored teenage girls who have a crush on Tamara's first newly acquired boyfriend, a famous rock star, help to move the plot along.

The story is very amusing and there is a happy ending for almost all of the parties concerned, i.e. most characters find their true love interest.

All in all a better than average romantic comedy which was a joy to watch.

☆☆☆☆

Gemma Bovary

This recent (2014) French comedy features my favorite male French actor, Fabrice Luchini, as a Parisian intellectual (Martin) who returned to Normandy where he runs his parents bakery. When an English couple called Bovery moves into a neighboring house and the wife's name turns out to be Gemma, played by he very attractive Gemma Arterton, Martin is strongly reminded of Flaubert's masterpiece 'Madame Bovary'. His obsession only increases when, as in the book, Gemma starts having an affair (unfortunately for him, not with Martin).

Genna Aterton and Fabrice Luchini

The plot is clever and entertaining. There are funny characters representing some stereotypes about English expats living in France and the views of the Normandy countryside are as pleasant as in reality. Overall, a nice lightweight comedy, well worth viewing.

☆☆☆