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Three out of Five stars
Running time: 100 mins

Watchable, well acted and occasionally amusing French drama, though it's not as emotionally satisfying as Jaoui's previous films.

What's it all about?
Co-writer-director Agnes Jaoui plays local political candidate Agathe Villanova, who returns to her childhood home in the south of France in order to help her sister Florence (Pascale Arbillot) sort through their recently deceased mother's belongings. While she's there, the son (Jamel Debbouze as Karim) of the family maid (Mimouna Hadji) takes advantage of her presence and attempts to interview her as part of a documentary about successful women that he's undertaken with his film school teacher, Michel (co-writer Jean-Pierre Bacri).

However, Michel's intentions aren't quite what they seem, as he's having an affair with Florence and hoping to persuade her to leave her husband. Meanwhile, Karim finds his own marriage threatened when his attractive hotel co-worker (Florence Loiret-Caille) declares an interest in him.

The Good
The performances are excellent, even if none of the characters are all that likeable. Bacri and Debbouze make an intriguing double act, but their relationship never really goes anywhere, while Michel's affair with Florence seems frustratingly underwritten.

Given the rich dialogue and fascinating characters of Jaoui's previous movies (The Taste of Others, Look at Me), it's something of a disappointment that this film's best moments are the rather crude comedy scenes, such as the gag video that Michel and Karim cut together, or the series of disasters that befalls the main trio when they decide to film up a mountain.

The Bad
Ultimately, the film doesn't quite seem to know what it wants to say, with the result that it lacks the emotional impact of Jaoui's previous films. Similarly, the constant chattering eventually begins to take its toll and the film feels a lot longer than its 100 minutes.

Worth seeing?
In short, Let's Talk About The Rain is worth seeing if you're a fan of Jaoui's previous work, but otherwise, you should rent The Taste of Others instead.