A pompous philandering author, his dutifully long-suffering wife, a handsome groundskeeper and the titular young journalist (Gemma Arterton) constitute the foundation of this Stephen Frears adaptation of a graphic novel by Posy Simmonds. The ever-reliable Frears fashions this material into a dependable comedy with classic rather than typically broad Hollywood sensibilities, despite the inherent possibilities for misplaced mass appeal. Grade: B.  

Set in the Belle Epoque era of the late 1800s, Michelle Pfeiffer plays Lea, an aging high-society courtesan whose romantic dabblings with a young stud named Cheri (Rupert Friend) lead to a certain ennui of requited lust for the aged Lea, whose life plan was not as thoroughly conceived as she imagined. Pfeiffer momentarily teases the oh-so-droll drama from its dull-witted eroticism from time to time, but the overall effect is that of stale chocolate. Grade: C.  

"This is how I remember being at that age," says the 34-year-old Joachim Trier. "It was Kierkegaard being debated around a coffee table, then a beautiful girl walks by and everyone goes, 'Will you go out with me?'" Since it premiered on the festival circuit, Trier's "Reprise" has garnered admiring praise and audiences alike.