Shy paleontologist/archaeologist (Gérard Depardieu) makes an archeological find of the fossil remains of the first, two-million-year-old, French woman, whom he calls Laura.[5][6][7][8] He is approached and conned by a crass and greedy American model and Madison Avenue advertising executive (Sigourney Weaver), masquerading as a charity organisation executive in order to use the woman for her own perfume advertising campaign.[8][5]
Later the real charity organisation executive, ditzy rich American patroness of the sciences (Ruth Westheimer; Dr. Ruth, in her feature film debut) turns up ... it all develops from there.[9][10][11][2]
Sigourney Weaver and Dr. Ruth speak most of their dialogue in French.[14]
Production
The film was shot in France (much of it in Paris) and New York City.[1][15] French paleontologist Yves Coppens advised on the film.[16]
Release
It was released in the U.S. under the name One Woman or Two,[17] the literal English language translation of its French language title.
Reviews
Chicago Sun-Times reviewer Roger Ebert wrote of this film in a half star review, "Add it all up, and what you've got here is a waste of good electricity. I'm not talking about the electricity between the actors. I'm talking about the current to the projector."[17] In 2005 he included it on his most-hated films list.[18]
Richard Harrington writing for The Washington Post said: "it's funny enough, and genial in the way French comedy tends to be."[5]
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, writing for Spirituality & Practice, rated it 3 out of 5, saying the film "abounds in zany situations" and "offers plenty of chuckles."[19]
References
^ abc"Hachette Premiere On Rebound; Has 'Femme,' 'Billy' In Hopper". Variety. 1 May 1985. p. 340.
^ ab"Movies". New York Magazine. New York Media, LLC. 23 February 1987 – via Google Books.
^"Brief Movie Reviews". New York Magazine. New York Media, LLC. 9 February 1987 – via Google Books.