Movie: Cheri

Michelle Pfeiffer appears as lovely as ever, and Kathy Bates turns in her usual tour de force, but “Cheri” remains another example of Thomas Wolfe’s oft-quoted regret: “You can’t go home again.”

This time it rings very true for the team that helped make Pfeiffer a star a full two decades ago in “Dangerous Liaisons,” including director Stephen Frears (“The Queen") and its Oscar-winning writer Christopher Hampton.

Except for re-creating a sparkling turn of the century Paris, neither brings much to the lighthearted party that can’t be found in the two Colette novels on which their latest film is based. That is, Pfeiffer’s high-class call girl – nicely termed a courtesan in those radiant old days – teaching the fine points of love to a young and naïve high roller (Rupert Friend).

Michelle Pfeiffer as a courtesan in "Cheri."

Turns out that Lea de Lonval (Pfeiffer), who is nearing retirement from the seduction game and looking for new challenges, if not the riches that come with them, had nicknamed the ill-mannered youth Cheri years before her rival/his manipulative mother (Bates) schemed to bring them together again.

Six years later, the couple is still scandalously living together when Bates’ Charlotte Peloux returns with another money-making plan: Match son Cheri with a much younger beauty (Felicity Jones) from an equally notorious mother of wealth.

What follows are some shallow and predictable misgivings from all corners in a tale short on laughs, as well as any notion of chemistry between the lead romancers.

Meanwhile, as cool as she continues in front of the camera, the rail-thin Pfeiffer needs some meatier jobs in her life. Except for her smart comic turn in “Hairspray,” “Cheri” is the second in three films (including the underrated “Stardust”) in which she plays characters ever searching for a fountain of youth. Here’s one major star that certainly deserves better.

Rated: R
Stars: Michelle Pfeiffer, Rupert Friend, Kathy Bates, Felicity Jones
Director: Stephen Frears

Studio/Official Site: http://www.cheri-movie.com/

[John M. Urbancich has been reviewing movies and writing film features and celebrity profiles at Cleveland's Sun Newspapers for 25 years. As a longtime member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, his work has been appearing on the Sun News website for more than a decade. John also regularly updates his own site at www.JMuvies.com ]