Up for Love (2016) — French: Un homme à la hauteur — is a romantic comedy about love beyond appearances. Below is a concise, shareable post you can use on social media, a blog, or a film-recommendation list.
Plot summary A successful and charming architect, Alexandre, meets Diana, an attractive and independent columnist. Sparks fly, but Alexandre hides a personal insecurity: he is 1.36 m (4'5") tall. The film follows their chemistry, Diana’s reactions, and how both confront prejudice, self-image, and what really matters in a relationship.
Why watch
Content notes
Quick take (1-2 sentences) A warm, modern rom-com that uses an unconventional premise to examine prejudice, self-worth, and the choices we make for love—funny and sweet, if you can look past a few predictable beats.
Suggested caption for social media "Looking for a light, feel-good rom‑com? Watch Up for Love (2016) — a sweet story about love, insecurity, and choosing people for who they are, not how they look. 🍿💕"
Tags/keywords #UpForLove #UnHommeALaHauteur #RomCom #BodyPositivity #DateNight
If you want a longer review, discussion questions for a watch-party, or a brief character list, say which and I’ll add it.
Up for Love (Un homme à la hauteur) is a 2016 French-Belgian romantic comedy starring Academy Award winner Jean Dujardin and Virginie Efira. It is a remake of the 2013 Argentine film Corazón de León. 🎬 Plot Overview
The story follows Diane, a beautiful lawyer who has been divorced for three years. After losing her mobile phone, she is contacted by Alexandre, a charming and successful architect who found it. They strike up an immediate connection over the phone, but when they meet in person, Diane is shocked to find that Alexandre is only 4' 6" tall. The film explores Diane's journey as she tries to overcome her own prejudices and the social stigma of dating a much shorter man. 👥 Cast & Crew Director: Laurent Tirard Alexandre: Jean Dujardin Diane: Virginie Efira
Bruno: Cédric Kahn (Diane's ex-husband and business partner) Benji: César Domboy (Alexandre's son) 🛡️ Parents Guide (Content Rating)
The film is generally considered a lighthearted rom-com with mild mature themes:
Sex & Nudity: Mild. Includes some suggestive humor and kissing, but no graphic scenes. Violence: None. Profanity: Mild language. Alcohol/Smoking: Mild; features social drinking. 📍 Filming & Technical Trivia Up for Love (2016) - IMDb up for love 2016
Weiwei (Angelababy) is a gaming goddess and a coding genius. Xiao Nai (Jing Boran) is the mysterious, rich, and devastatingly handsome senior who also happens to be the top player in the game A Chinese Ghost Story.
After being dumped in-game by her virtual husband, Weiwei ends up in a "marriage of convenience" with the elusive male lead. The twist? She has no idea that her new pixelated hubby is actually the real-life campus legend she bumps into every day.
Cue the chaos of online flirting colliding with real-world embarrassment.
1. The Li Xian Factor This movie is a fantastic time capsule for anyone who discovered Li Xian later in Go Go Squid! or Meet Yourself. In 2016, he was already showing that signature blend of deadpan humor and hidden warmth. His Jiang Haode is grumpy on the outside but melts beautifully on the inside—and he looks great in a doctor’s coat.
2. Pure Escapism Let’s be honest: Up for Love is not trying to be In the Mood for Love. It’s a light, fast-paced (under 100 minutes) film with vibrant cinematography and a bubbly soundtrack. If you’re tired of heavy dramas or complicated relationship stories, this movie feels like a glass of sparkling lemonade on a sunny afternoon.
3. The “What If” of Angelababy Angelababy is often critiqued for her acting range, but in a role like this—bubbly, fashionable, and emotionally straightforward—she fits perfectly. She’s not asked to cry a river or deliver a Shakespearean monologue; she’s asked to be cute and determined, which she does with ease.
While the trailer might suggest a standard physical comedy, the film is surprisingly philosophical. It tackles:
The comedic moments, when they come, are organic. A scene where Alexandre has to climb onto a barstool is not a joke about his size, but a brilliant visual metaphor for the “climbing” he has to do to meet people halfway in society.
The story begins in the glossy, fast-paced world of modern dating. Diane (Virginie Efira) is a successful, glamorous lawyer in her early forties. She is recently separated, sharp-tongued, and spectacularly unlucky in love. After losing (and then finding) her expensive smartphone, she discovers a series of increasingly charming voicemails from a man named Alexandre.
When she finally calls him back, the voice on the other end is irresistible: deep, confident, witty, and warm. It belongs to Alexandre (Jean Dujardin), a renowned architect who seems to be the perfect man—intelligent, sensitive, and refreshingly direct.
They arrange a meeting at a chic restaurant. Diane arrives early, dressed to the nines, her heart racing. She watches the door for a tall, dark, handsome stranger. But when Alexandre walks in, the film delivers its masterstroke of comedic tension.
Alexandre is not tall. In fact, he is 4 feet 6 inches (1.36 meters) tall. Up for Love (2016) — French: Un homme
The scene is a masterclass in awkward comedy. Diane, conditioned by societal norms, is visibly stunned. She panics, makes an excuse about a forgotten phone charger, and flees. But Alexandre, undeterred and utterly comfortable in his own skin, chases after her—not with anger, but with empathy. He confronts her prejudice head-on, not with bitterness, but with humor.
Diane, ashamed of her reaction but intrigued by the man behind the voice, agrees to give him a second chance. What follows is a whirlwind romance that challenges everything Diane thought she knew about attraction, status, and what it means to be "up for love."
Up for Love (2016) is a French romantic comedy directed by Laurent Tirard and starring Jean Dujardin and Virginie Efira, centering on a woman who falls for a charming architect who is 4'6" tall. While critics praised the lead performances and the film's charming tone, some noted inconsistent CGI shrinking effects and a lack of depth regarding the social challenges presented. Find detailed information at Rotten Tomatoes. Up For Love - Loose Lips
The traditional courtship shenanigans take on a bit more of an edge when it briefly touches its subtext of dealing with prejudice, loose-lips.com Up for Love (2016) - Rotten Tomatoes
Title: The Vertigo of Romance: A Critical Analysis of Up for Love (2016)
Abstract This paper examines the 2016 French romantic comedy Up for Love (Un homme à la hauteur), directed by Laurent Tirard. While marketed as a lighthearted romantic comedy, the film presents a unique narrative conceit: a successful architect with dwarfism who conceals his height through technological mediation. This analysis explores the film’s navigation of physical vs. psychological height, the role of technology in modern identity, and the genre’s limitations when confronted with disability. Ultimately, the paper argues that the film uses the romantic comedy formula to deconstruct superficiality, challenging the audience to look beyond the "gaze" toward the reality of the protagonist.
Up for Love isn’t a movie about a short man. It’s a movie about a tall woman learning to see past her own shadow. It’s funny, tender, and uncomfortable in the best way.
In a genre filled with manicured millionaires and impossible meet-cutes, here’s a film that dares to say: Love is an act of defiance.
Go into it with an open mind. You might just forget about the height, too.
Rating: ★★★½ (3.5/5)
Have you seen “Up for Love”? Did you find it charming or cringe-worthy? Drop a comment below.
Up for Love (Un homme à la hauteur) is a 2016 French romantic comedy directed by Laurent Tirard. It stars Academy Award winner Jean Dujardin and Virginie Efira. The film is a remake of the 2013 Argentine-Brazilian film Corazón de León. Plot Summary Content notes
The story follows Diane, a brilliant lawyer who is recently divorced. After losing her mobile phone, she receives a call from Alexandre, a charming and cultured architect who found it. They hit it off instantly over the phone and agree to meet for a date.
The "twist" occurs when they meet in person: Diane discovers that Alexandre is only 4 feet 6 inches (137 cm) tall. The film explores their budding romance as Diane struggles to overcome her own prejudices and the judgmental stares of society. Key Movie Details Original Title: Un homme à la hauteur Release Date: May 4, 2016 (France) Director: Laurent Tirard Runtime: 1 hour 38 minutes Genre: Romantic Comedy / Drama Cast: Jean Dujardin as Alexandre Virginie Efira as Diane Cédric Kahn as Bruno (Diane's ex-husband/business partner) Reception and Analysis
Critical Response: The film received mixed reviews, holding a Metascore of 48 and a 6.3/10 rating on IMDb. Critics praised the chemistry between Dujardin and Efira but noted the film's reliance on "unadulterated silliness" and situational humor.
Visual Effects: Jean Dujardin (who is 5'11" in real life) was digitally shrunk using green screens and forced perspective. While some viewers found the effects charming, others felt they were occasionally inconsistent.
Themes: Beyond the romance, the film tackles heightism and social stigma. It highlights the "callous insensitivity" of the public toward people who are physically different. Where to Watch
You can find more details and official trailers on platforms like The Movie Database (TMDB) or check local box office stats on The Numbers. Up for Love (2016) - News - IMDb
☆☆☆ Few rationally-thinking females jump out of planes at 10,000 feet with a smooth-talking chap they met only an hour previously.
Up for Love / Un homme à la hauteur (2016) - Teaser (French)
The film opens with Diane (Virginie Efira), a successful, recently divorced lawyer in her forties. She is elegant, sharp-witted, and decidedly cynical about love. After a bitter separation from her ex-husband (who left her for a much younger woman), Diane has sworn off romantic entanglements. She spends her evenings alone, nursing her wounds and her pride.
One day, she receives a call from a man named Alexandre (Jean Dujardin). He has found her phone, which she accidentally left at a restaurant. Their phone conversation is electric—witty, flirtatious, and surprisingly deep. They banter like old friends; he makes her laugh, and she challenges his intellect. There is a palpable chemistry, built entirely on voice and words.
They decide to meet. However, there is a catch that Alexandre has failed to mention: he is 4 feet 5 inches tall (1.36 meters). In a panic, he watches her from across the park, sees her scanning the crowd for a tall, handsome stranger, and loses his nerve. He lies, saying he cannot make it.
The core of Up for Love 2016 kicks off when Alexandre finally confesses and they meet face-to-face. Diane is shocked—not because she is cruel, but because social conditioning has prepared her for a different image. What follows is not a farce of slapstick falls or mean-spirited jokes, but a tender, awkward, and deeply human negotiation between two people who are perfect for each other on paper but terrified of the world’s judgment.