PEOPLE: DVD

SYNOPSIS:
Charles de Poulignac (Rupert Everett) is the Parisian jet set's party supreme. You want fizz, pizza, glitter, glamour and maybe a little Shakira? Call Charles. But a jealous competitor conspires to make him an outcast, snubbed by the snobs. Desperate to get back into the game, Charles flies to pill-popping, club hopping, non-stop Ibiza, party capital of the world, where his destiny lies in the hands of John John (Jose Garcia), king (or maybe queen) of the Ibiza night scene.

Review by Andrew L. Urban:
If for nothing else - and there's plenty of else - People is worth seeing just for Spain's version of Robert Downey jnr, Jose Garcia, whose versatility (or stretch as film jargon has it) is legend. This is the first role I've seen him play a queen, and he's dazzling ij a tour de farce performance that manages to be both vulgar, gay and dramatic all at once. (I bet you've never seen a dildo collection like this one.) Queen of Ibiza, as Rupert Everett - no mean queen himself in real life - calls him on first meeting, as he tries to have Garcia's John John to help him reclaim his own crown as the Parisian part prince. The snobs have deserted him after foul play by his jealous competition ... details not to be revealed.

It's all about having a real good time; party, party, party, and who can resists, in these dreary times. Full of outrageous but entertaining ideas, the film has irresistible charm, despite its kooky story. And apart from anything else, there isn't one scene which doesn't reek of hedonistic fun, and spectacular showmanship or beauty, either of the landscape or the décor variety.

Curiously enough, considering the superficially superficial tone and content, the cast makes sure it gets under your skin and we start to care about the characters. Or some of them. And there's a cute love story about a goat ... plus the jet set withdrawal clinic. Total escapism - and very camp.

Published December 18, 2008