Tropic Sprockets / Two Tickets to Greece

By Ian Brockway

Marc Fitoussi directs “Two Tickets to Greece,” a charming comedy that holds together and remains involving despite its dramatic convention. The strength of its characters is authentic and immersive. 

Blandine (Olivia Côte) is a depressed single mom. Her son Ben (Alexandre Desrousseaux) attempts to create a reunion between his mom and her best childhood friend Margalie (Laure Calamy) despite their falling out decades ago.

Things are tense from the start as Margalie mentions Blandine’s aging appearance. Blandine goes through with the lunch gradually won over by her friend’s lighthearted quirky manners.

Ben suggests a vacation with Margalie. Blandine blanches but then reconsiders and the pair is off to Amorgos quicker than you can say the words “blue sea.”

This is essentially an “Odd Couple” film, but its friendship and rapport have real spirit. 

Magalie wants the blighted and worried Blandine to loosen up and go wild, while her friend wants her to be more serious and responsible. 

Of course, the bohemian friend has men on her mind and the two get into romantic tangles. Events follow a predictable path. Although the happenstance is somewhat routine, Laure Calamy is highly engaging. She has great charge and completely embodies her character.

There is a dance scene that wonderfully shows the supernatural power of movement, portraying Magdalie and Blandine as young teens once more and it is the best in the film. Laure Calamy in her role is spontaneity personified, and she is wonderful.

While the episodes of intrigue recall films like “Book Club” and “Sex in the City” with glossy travel scenes to match, the two main characters possess a genuine quality of love, humor, and co-dependence. 

While the emphasis is on light-hearted charm the film is laced with the dangers of intimacy and the shadows within ourselves.

The tone remains ultimately cheerful here despite some shade from Magalie’s past. One might wish for less convention and a bit more pathos. 

“Two Tickets to Greece” is entertaining, breezy, and more genuinely comic than “Absolutely Fabulous” or “Book Club.” This is a real portrait of friendship with traces of its inherent push and pull.

Write Ian at [email protected]

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