Although this film's budget befitted the impoverished circumstances of the main characters and the script is rather threadbare at times, the characterization is great. The basis is the mutual mistrust and attraction of the stunningly attractive Polish blonde, Alicja, and the English art student turned courier for a sleezy strip club operator/porno dealer - despite their different cultures both are educated and their needs are similar. The secondary characters add life also: Alicja's intended doctor fiance who reveals himself as a wimp, her Newcastle landlady who is businesslike but offbeat, the book publisher whose lustful interest in her is a little too obvious. We are reminded of Gary Kemp's musical renown in the scene with the one-man-band busker and his harmonica, and the scene where Alicja begins her strip in the club has a cool blues guitar soundtrack. 7/10.
4 Reviews
Fans of Green Card will like this Polish/British version
inkblot1116 January 2007
Alisya has come from Warsaw to England, after receiving a marriage proposal from a British doctor. However, when she meets the physician again, he tells her his mother is against the union and that's that. Wanting desperately to stay in England, Alisya makes a half hearted proposal to one of the doctor's male patients. He, Aidan, declines, of course, but he owes the mob some cash and he later agrees to accept her invitation for marriage, in name only. But, Alisya will have to fork over some cash, naturally, so he can pay the bad guys. Not having quite enough money, however, makes the mobsters angry and Aidan finds himself hiding out in Alisya's small apartment. Is it possible that these two will find they have something in common, post wedding ceremony? This is a pleasant little film for those romantic comedy fans everywhere. The Polish female star is beautiful and winning and the other actors quite acceptable, really. Although the film has a definite "Limey" feel, it is accessible to those outside the British empire. The costumes and production values are merely adequate but that will not matter, either. Most of those who seek out something new in the funny love story category will find this film fits the bill.
I know this much is true...
JohnSeal10 March 2008
Warning: Spoilers
Truthfully, it's hard to get past the dreadful hairstyles modeled in Paper Marriage by leads Joanna Trepechinska and Gary Kemp--not to mention the angular New Romantic-influenced blunt cut of co-star Martin McKellan. Trepechinska plays Alicja, a blonde Polish woman with tightly permed locks who has emigrated from Warsaw to London, where she intends to marry Dr. Matthew Devenish (McKellan), who looks like the guitar player from Duran Duran. The callow Devenish hasn't received permission from Mummy to get married, however, and Alicja finds herself stranded in Britain without a work permit or a marriage license. Enter hapless jack of no trades Aidan (Kemp, sporting a hideous modified mullet), who needs to raise money quickly to pay off his boss for losing a motorcycle. Aidan offers to marry her if she can raise the three thousand pounds he needs in order to avoid a severe beating. This minor British-Polish comedy drama is well shot but a bit underwritten, and though Kemp is passable, he's better in straight dramatic roles. It's amusing to ponder how quaint the idea of a Polish immigrant adapting to British life must have seemed in 1992; now, of course, the Polish diaspora is well established and deeply rooted. You don't need to go out of your way to see Paper Marriage but if you stumble across it, you'll probably enjoy it.
Gary's lovely when he's nice.
Little Jo3 March 2000
As a teenage Spandau Ballet fan who has never quite grown out of it, I take a great interest in the films of the Kemp Brothers. Some of those that I have seen,"The Krays" and "Killing Zoe" were good movies, but I can't honestly say that a psychotic gangster or a blood thirsty bank robber is quite how I want to see my teenage hero. This is more like it. Its one of these great Made In Britain movies (in this case joint funded by Poland) that we are good at. Strong on characters, with humour, pathos and a good, if slightly implausible plot.
Gary Kemp is great as down on his luck artist who sees a way to pay of his debts. And he plays the harmonica. Pity in wasn't the guitar though. That would have taken me right back. The cover for this said "If you liked Green Card you'll love Paper Marriage" This is 100 times better than Green Card, for a start Andie MacDowall is nowhere in sight.
Gary Kemp is great as down on his luck artist who sees a way to pay of his debts. And he plays the harmonica. Pity in wasn't the guitar though. That would have taken me right back. The cover for this said "If you liked Green Card you'll love Paper Marriage" This is 100 times better than Green Card, for a start Andie MacDowall is nowhere in sight.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
