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"Green Card" takes the romcom and gives it a twist by starting with a marriage rather than ending with one. It is however the traditional tale of two initially hostile people who in order to complete their happiness must learn a few home truths about themselves.
Andie McDowell is Brontë, an inner city horticulturist who needs to be married to get her dream flat with a conservatory. Gérard Depardieu is Georges, the Frenchman requiring a Green Card to stay in America. Their marriage is one of convenience but when the authorities start to check up on them, they are forced to spend a weekend together in order to convince immigration their marriage is genuine.
As their weekend unfolds, MacDowell's conservatism clashes with Depardieu's coarseness. He crushes garlic with his bare hands. He annoys her with his direct manner and clumsiness and says: "If you want me to be a beast, I can be a beast."
Depardieu is perfect as the rugged, untamed man with the sexy French accent. This was his first English-speaking film and was fresh on the heels of his success as the tragic romantic hero in "Cyrano de Bergarac". Despite being an unlikely leading man, he does win you over.
Andie MacDowell was also trying to forge a career in acting from modelling, her most prominent film before this being "Sex, Lies, and Videotape". Although her role here is hardly demanding, she is convincing as the repressed Brontë.
On the whole, there are very few surprises. The film trots along pleasantly, gently making its point that love comes in many guises. Not a bad way to spend St Valentine's night.
"Green Card" is on Â鶹Éç1 at 10.35pm, Wednesday 14th February 2001.
