The Valet is another English-language film adapted from a hit French film but this film suffers by having too long of a run time.
If the film had run about an hour and a half, no problem. However, it could certainly stand to be tighter and lose a few scenes. I mean, you have a few scenes here and there that really add nothing to the overall film. If the film wants us to focus on Antonio (Eugenio Derbez) and Olivia Allan (Samara Weaving), why spend an increasing number of minutes on the private investigators tailing them.
Basically, the gist of the film is that the paparazzi catch Olivia in action with married lover Vincent Royce (Max Greenfield). Lucky for them, Antonio is also in the photo. What they end up doing is enlist Antonio to start posing as her new boyfriend. The ruse can only work for so long. For one, the two are not even in the same league together. I mean, can you really buy a famous actress dating a parking valet? Ask yourself the question, I’ll wait. Kathryn Royce (Betsy Brandt) does not believe it for a moment and hires a private investigator. Speaking for myself, I certainly cannot. Even though a ruse brings them together, they get to know each other. You could probably buy them as friends but not lovers.
I like how they handle the fish-out-of-water aspect of it all. Still though, this is a film that should be over after an hour and a half. The original film runs just shy of 90 minutes! Why is there this need to extend a film beyond its expiration? The final half hour features many traditional rom-com beats but with one exception. You’ll see what happens when the film arrives on Hulu (US)/Disney+ (International) starting on May 20.
Derbez also produces the film. Interestingly, both CODA and The Valet are English-language remakes of French films. Unlike CODA, this film is not winning Best Picture. To be fair, this film has been in the works since 2014 and at one point, Lionsgate was set to release the film in theaters. The 2006 French film inspired a Hindi remake, which also inspired Punjabi and Bengali remakes.
The Valet has potential to be funnier than it is but the film could have been executed in a better way.
DIRECTOR: Richard Wong
SCREENWRITERS: Rob Greenberg and Bob Fisher
CAST: Eugenio Derbez, Samara Weaving, Max Greenfield, Carmen Salinas Lozano, Betsy Brandt, Amaury Nolasco, Marisol Nichols, Diany Rodriguez, Tiana Okoye, John Pirrucello, Ravi Patel, Noemí González, and Lunay
Hulu launches The Valet on May 20, 2022. Grade: 3/5
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