What a load of tosh.

Unless I am mistaken, Vanessa Nunes is Brazilian. If not, judging by her IMDB page, she certainly seems to work there exclusively. Personally I thought she set the screen alight. Her physical presence aside, she possesses a real and rare talent that deserves a far wider audience.

Another actor that deserves a mention is Julio Levi who played the Copacabana Concierge. (Nationality not listed in IMBD unfortunately.) Whilst not given a massive amount to do, I thought he was spot on and hit exactly the right note, both in his initial grovelling (without going over the top) to the visibly wealthy Laurie at his arrival in the hotel and also in his consummate handling of the transition, once he realises the money is all gone. Class actor at work.

Spanish born, Santiago Segura, playing Paulo has his job to do too. Look at Rhys Ifans in Notting Hill, both are charged with the responsibility of playing the lovable fool. It’s a role that has always and will always be, in almost any romantic comedy. Keeping that kind of character alive for as much screen time as the story demands of Segura, whilst only ever giving him a supportive position isn’t easy.

Nelson Xavier, another Brazilian, was, in an attempt not to go for the obvious hard-man gangster type, cast as a camp villain and it was this, I felt let the film down. Not because of Mr Xavier’s performance, he did what he was asked to do as well as anyone could. For me, the flaw lay in the deliberate avoidance by writer/director Christopher Monger to deliver a genuinely threatening or at least believably frightening character.

Hugh Laurie, as ever gives a solid performance and, together with Nunes, holds together a piece which, while occasionally flawed in places by directorially broad brush strokes, to me at least delivered an enjoyable, fun to watch, romantic comedy.

This poor excuse for a film has just been shown on the BBC today. What a waste of Hugh Laurie's talent. Was this made before he became a star in the States?