Hotel de Love

1997 "A comedy about the romantically challenged and passionately confused."
Hotel de Love
6.1| 1h35m| R| en| More Info
Released: 07 February 1997 Released
Producted By: Pratt Film Productions
Country: Australia
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

10 years ago at a party, Steven thinks he sees the girl of his dreams, Melissa. Just as he's about to make his move, his twin brother Rick gets to her first and they fall in love. Steven watches his brother's relationship bloom, longing for Melissa all the while. Eventually, Melissa leaves to go to college and the brothers go on with their lives. Steven becomes a workaholic to block out his feelings about Melissa and Rick becomes a spineless bellboy at the Hotel de Love, after a later girl friend stood him up at the altar. Enter Steven and Rick's warring parents visiting the Hotel de Love for their anniversary. Re-enter Melissa with her current boyfriend, Norman. Suddenly Rick and Steven have a second chance at Melissa. Also there's Alison the palm reader, Susie behind the counter, the owner/piano player, and the freshly married couple.

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robert-mitchell-195-767132 I've watched this move multiple times, and always come away happy. The fraternal twin brothers (Aden Young and Simon Bossell) are both so different, and yet both yearn for love, they think for the same woman. The brothers' parents are absurd, and show the difficulties when you fail to express what you want and need. Aden Young is beautifully handsome, and Saffron Burrows is stunning; the ache Aden's character feels for her is easy to understand. Simon Bossell's character feels things intensely, but has to learn to look (and wait) for love in the right places. The ending is quite beautiful, even though much of the movie is absurd! I say this is a screwball comedy because the love the brothers' feel makes them act in crazy ways reminding me of Katherine Hepburn's character in Bringing Up Baby. In Bossell's character's case, the love arises absurdly, yet he finds a way to make it all work out. The idea of the movie is that often love is right in front of us, but we can't see it. If you like screwball romantic comedies, and enjoy silliness as well as absurdity in relationships, I think you can't go wrong watching this delightful movie.
Rich La Bonte (flatrich) Hotel de Love is an obscure comedy from Australian writer-director Craig Rosenberg that is worth the wait after an initial slow start. What begins like just another teen angst whine fest suddenly becomes positively Shakespearian fun in the tradition of Midsummer Night's Dream, with twin brothers trapped by a lost early love for all the wrong reasons.When the gal of their dreams shows up ten years later with her fiancée at a bizarre honeymoon hotel, the twins start a mad campaign for her affections and haul the audience along with them. The twin's dysfunctional parents are added to the mixups as guests of the hotel along with one brother's hotel palm reader girlfriend.The actors probably save what could have been just a remake of half a dozen late fifties or early sixties Hollywood comedies, but the film is written fast and is self-satirical and punctuated with whacky sets and excellent music choices.Australian actor Simon Bossell stars as the obsessed brother who never gets the girl. American sci-fi audiences might recognize him from a guest shot on Farscape in the 2nd season's "A Clockwork Nebari" episode. His frantic physical comedy steals most of the movie.Saffron Burrows is the object of obsession. Burrows is a promising British actress who played Dr. Susan McCallister opposite the likes of Thomas Jane, LL Cool J, Michael Rapaport and Samuel L. Jackson in Renny Harlin's flawed underwater thriller Deep Blue Sea (1999) and also co-starred with Freddie Prinze Jr. in the much more unexciting Wing Commander the same year.She's very good here, however, reminiscent of Paula Prentiss and Geena Davis. Obviously an actress in need of a good script.Aden Young also does OK as the brother who wins Saffron in the end. He's a Canadian actor who looks like Farscape's Ben Browder, but he's not quite as funny.The Farscape connections are interesting though, because one reason this film may eventually acquire cult status in the future is a brief bit part topless scene with Australian actress Raelee Hill, who was Farscape's Sikozu (2002-2003). Male Scapers won't be disappointed, believe me.
cinoches-4 I have watched many films from Down Under and tremendously enjoyed most of them. Australian films havea distinct "flavour"; probably part of it comes from theaccent!!! However, the title of this one did not even attractme at first but I thought I'd give it a try after reading a shortreview of the film in some magazine. And I'm glad I did. Inspite of all the "kitsch", it was certainly a good watch........itactually left a pleasant aftertaste! In fact, it would not havebeen as good without the "kitsch". Well played out by theactors/actresses.....a memorable one being the piano player/hotel owner with his songs.
Sean Gallagher Most romantic comedies these days seem content to get by on charm, but this is genuinely funny and romantic, despite the somewhat gaudy setting of a honeymoon hotel. Although there are quite a few flourishes (like the piano player playing kitsch 70's hits and being the one everyone talks to), it's grounded in real passions and feelings, which also helps the comedy. I especially like the scene between Melissa and Rick where they tell the truth to each other. I didn't know any of the actors in this movie except Saffron Burrows (who I hope goes on to bigger things), but they were all excellent as well.