Up For Love 2016 Online
Eight years ago, Chinese cinema gave us a light, airy romantic comedy perfect for a no-brainer movie night: Up for Love (2016). Starring a pre-Go Go Squid! Li Xian and the ever-stunning Angelababy, the film is a classic example of mid-2010s rom-com charm—predictable, visually pleasing, and undeniably sweet.
The film tells the story of Cheng Guo (played by Wu Jing), a 35-year-old bachelor who is a successful businessman. He meets a beautiful and charming woman named Duan Xiaomei (played by Zhang Ziyi), who is a kindergarten teacher. Despite their vastly different backgrounds and personalities, they fall in love and get married.
However, their relationship is put to the test when Cheng's mother, who is a wealthy and influential woman, disapproves of their marriage and tries to sabotage their relationship. Cheng's mother wants him to marry a woman of her choice, who is from a wealthy and influential family.
As Cheng navigates his relationships with his mother and his wife, he must also confront his own identity and what he wants out of life. The film explores themes of love, family, and identity, and features a mix of humor, romance, and drama.
Up for Love is a film that asks a simple question: "Do you see me, or do you see my height?" By casting a leading man known for his charisma (Dujardin)
The 2016 film Up for Love (French title: Un homme à la hauteur) is a French-Belgian romantic comedy that tackles the complexities of societal prejudice and self-acceptance through a unique physical premise. Directed by Laurent Tirard, the movie stars Academy Award-winner Jean Dujardin and Virginie Efira in a story that asks whether love can truly transcend appearances. Plot Summary: A High-Stakes Chance Encounter
The story begins when Diane (Virginie Efira), a successful lawyer still entangled in a professional and emotional rivalry with her ex-husband Bruno (Cédric Kahn), loses her mobile phone. She is soon contacted by Alexandre (Jean Dujardin), who has found the device. During their phone conversation, Diane is immediately charmed by Alexandre’s wit, confidence, and sophisticated manner.
Expectations are high when they finally arrange to meet, but Diane is stunned to discover that Alexandre is only 4 feet 5 inches tall. Despite her initial shock, Alexandre’s relentless charm and impressive life—he is a world-class architect who skydives and lives in a stunning home—gradually win her over. The film follows their burgeoning romance as Diane struggles to reconcile her genuine feelings with the judgment and ridicule from her family, colleagues, and the public. Themes: Prejudice and Perspective
At its core, Up for Love is an exploration of "heightism" and the visible physical impairments that society often deems "acceptable" to mock. The film highlights several key themes:
Finding Love in Unexpected Heights: A Look at " Up for Love Looking for a charming romantic comedy that challenges your perspective? Let’s dive into the 2016 French gem, Up for Love (Un homme à la hauteur). The Plot: A Fateful Phone Call
The story follows Diane (Virginie Efira), a brilliant and beautiful lawyer who has recently ended a toxic marriage. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she loses her mobile phone and receives a call from the man who found it: Alexandre (Jean Dujardin).
Over the phone, Alexandre is witty, charming, and effortlessly winning. Diane is immediately intrigued and agrees to a date. However, their first meeting reveals a surprise—Alexandre is only 4 feet 5 inches tall. Why You Should Watch It up for love 2016
Star Power: The film features Oscar-winner Jean Dujardin (known for The Artist) and the talented Virginie Efira. Their chemistry is the heart of the film, balancing "middle-class embarrassment" with genuine warmth.
A "Feel-Good" Twist: While it uses classic rom-com tropes, it puts a unique spin on the "mismatched souls" theme by focusing on physical difference and how society reacts to it.
Visual Charm: Critics have noted that while the digital effects used to downsize Dujardin occasionally vary in scale, the story's heart more than makes up for any technical "hiccups". The Big Question: Can Love Overcome Stature?
At its core, Up for Love is more than just a comedy about height; it’s a "serious essay on dealing with difference". It asks the audience to reflect on their own biases: How would you react in Diane's situation?
If you're in the mood for a delightful romance that challenges stereotypes while keeping you smiling, this Top Ten French Rom-Com contender is a must-watch.
Are you a fan of French cinema, or do you have another favorite "mismatched" romance movie to recommend? Let us know in the comments!
g., make it more humorous or more analytical) or add a section comparing it to other French rom-coms? Up For Love (2016) - CineMuseFilms
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. Eight years ago, Chinese cinema gave us a
Diane (Virginie Efira) is a fiery, successful lawyer going through a brutal divorce. After losing her phone, she gets a call from the man who found it: Alexandre (Jean Dujardin), a charismatic architect with a deep, reassuring voice and impeccable comic timing. They talk for hours. They flirt. They plan a date.
The catch? Alexandre is 4 feet 6 inches (1.36 m) tall. And he has conveniently left that detail out of their late-night conversations.
When Diane arrives at the restaurant and scans the room for the tall, dark stranger from her imagination, only to find him barely reaching the hostess stand, the audience winces. Not because he is short—but because she is human. She freezes. She lies that she has an emergency. She flees.
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 (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 (French title: Un homme à la hauteur ) is a 2016 French-Belgian romantic comedy directed by Laurent Tirard . It is a remake of the 2013 Argentine-Brazilian film Corazón de León Plot Overview The story follows Virginie Efira
), a successful and beautiful lawyer who has been divorced for three years. After losing her mobile phone, she is contacted by Jean Dujardin
), a charming, witty, and high-profile architect who found it.
Their instant phone connection leads to a date, where Diane is stunned to discover that Alexandre is only 4'6" (1.36 meters) tall
. The film explores Diane's internal struggle to overcome her own prejudices and the societal judgment she faces while falling for Alexandre’s personality and charm. Production & Reception
Given that the title “Up for Love 2016” is most closely associated with the Chinese film directed by Jiao Shou (叫兽易小星) and starring Li Xian (李现) and Yang Ying (Angelababy), this post will focus on that movie. Content notes
The film’s biggest weakness is its predictability and lack of real conflict. The third-act breakup feels manufactured (a job offer in France? Really?), and the resolution is so rushed it practically trips over itself. The chemistry between the leads is pleasant but never sizzling—more “good friends” than “soulmates.” For viewers looking for depth or realism, this movie will leave you hungry.