Hotel de Love

 (1996)

by Tuna

Hotel de Love (1996) is an unambitious Australian romantic comedy about twin brothers, and their competition for women. Most of the film takes place at the Hotel de Love, where Aden Young is the manager. Twin brother Simon Bossell is a successful stock broker, but his love life is a mess. Bossell is picking up his parents to take them to the Hotel de Love where they were married. The marriage was the start of a lifelong battle of the sexes. The hotel, which used to be called Niagra Smalls, has elaborately-themed suites, and is a popular if somewhat tacky place for weddings and romance. We begin with a flashback, where both brothers are at a party, and Bossell suddenly "feels love." He turns around to see Saffron Burrows, and starts to walk towards her, only to be beaten by his brother. He must endure their resulting love affair, including her loss of virginity, at close range, relegated to the role of friend. When she leaves for university in England, they are both pining for her.

Returning to the near present, with their parents arriving for a visit, the boys have decided the parents should renew their wedding vows, even though they spent most of their married lives as combatants. That doesn't look promising, and mum is more virulent than usual until she starts receiving highly erotic love letters from a secret admirer. Burrows also checks in, boyfriend in tow. The boyfriend proposes. The old rivalry between the brothers resumes immediately, but Bossell becomes increasingly distracted by Pippa Grandison, the hotel psychic. Other running gags include a piano bar singer whom people continually ask for advice but don't let answer, and a pair of "horneymooners."

 

 

 

 

Our Grade:

If you are not familiar with our grading system, you need to read the explanation, because the grading is not linear. For example, by our definition, a C is solid and a C+ is a VERY good movie. There are very few Bs and As. Based on our descriptive system, this film is a:

C-

Mediocre rom-com which is only occasionally amusing.

 

 

Allyson Is Watching DVD (1997)

Region 4

PAL

THE CRITICS AND ACADEMIES

2 James Berardinelli (of 4 stars)
2.5 Roger Ebert (of 4 stars)
25 Rotten Tomatoes  (% positive)
47 Metacritic.com (of 100)

THE PEOPLE

   
6.1 IMDB summary (of 10)
   

THE BOX OFFICE

Box Office Mojo. It grossed only $165,000, never reaching more than 42 theaters.

NUDITY REPORT

  • Raelee Hill, as a girl who takes Bossell's virginity during the flashback sequence, shows breasts as she strips and then jumps on top of him. Saffron Burrows is seen in a bra. Her nipple is barely visible in a few frames.

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