Rough Cut Reviews

In Love Is Overrated (L’Amour, c’est surcoté), a sharp, offbeat romantic comedy hitting UK cinemas this Wednesday, Laura Felpin and Hakim Jemili form a high-energy, refreshingly unconventional couple. Directed by Mourad Winter and adapted from his own book, the film blends biting humour with emotional honesty. We sat down with the trio behind this vibrant debut — Felpin, Jemili and Winter — to talk about laughter, love, and breaking the rules of rom-coms.

Anis, played by Jemili, has never really understood women. One evening, he crosses paths with Madeleine (Felpin). He’s awkward but endearing; she’s blunt and bold, immediately turning their first encounter into a battle of wits and flirtation. Anis, instead of playing it straight, gets tangled in an escalating series of absurd lies, convinced he needs to reinvent himself to impress her. Around them, the film’s supporting characters — from Madeleine’s quick-tongued friends to her sarcastic father, portrayed by François Damiens — treat banter like a lifestyle. And then there’s Paulo (Benjamin Tranié), who turns politically incorrect jokes into a kind of performance art — nothing and no one is off-limits.

Winter’s approach is anything but restrained. For his first feature film, adapted from his 2021 novel published by Robert Laffont, he dismantles social niceties with sharp, unapologetic humour. Love Is Overrated isn’t afraid to poke fun at prejudice, fear, and even itself. The result is often laugh-out-loud funny — but it doesn’t stop there.

Beneath the surface, the film offers an unexpected depth. Winter dares to explore male vulnerability and the anxieties surrounding intimacy. Through Anis’s emotional chaos, he paints a touching portrait of a man struggling with self-image and the fear of truly connecting. This blend of comedy and sensitivity earned the film a special jury mention at the Alpe d’Huez Comedy Film Festival earlier this year.

For Laura Felpin, who’s been rising steadily on both stage and screen, this project marks a turning point: “The older I get, the more I realise how essential humour is,” she reflects. “It’s not just about making people laugh — it’s about coping, connecting, surviving.”

Hakim Jemili, meanwhile, embraces the chaos of his character with relish. “Anis is a mess — but a loveable one,” he says. “We all invent versions of ourselves when we fall in love. He just takes it a bit too far.”

As for Mourad Winter, Love Is Overrated is more than a romantic comedy — it’s a manifesto. “I wanted to strip away all the clichés,” he explains. “To show the comedy in pain, the truth in nonsense. Sometimes, being honest means being ridiculous.”

If this film is anything to go by, audiences will be seeing much more from this creative trio — and not just in the realm of romantic comedy. With humour, heart, and a healthy disregard for convention, Love Is Overrated is a breath of fresh air in French cinema.

When Nativity! hit UK cinemas in 2009, it quickly became a festive favourite thanks to its heartwarming story, laugh-out-loud moments and an endearing cast of schoolchildren. Among the standout characters was Bob, played by Ben Wilby, whose comedic dance moves and charming screen presence left a lasting impression on audiences.

Fourteen years later, Ben is no longer the cheeky seven-year-old who lit up the screen with pelvic thrusts and breakdancing. Now 21, he’s grown into a confident young man with a muscular build and sandy blonde hair, though his playful smile still echoes the boy fans remember.

Recently, Ben made an appearance at the Heart Breakfast radio studio, auditioning in front of Amanda Holden for the station’s upcoming Christmas production. He follows in the footsteps of stars like Leona Lewis, Tom Fletcher, and Ashley Roberts, continuing to stay active in the entertainment world.

The original Nativity! film followed the story of a primary school teacher who gets himself in a bind after falsely claiming that a Hollywood producer is coming to watch his class’s nativity play. Rather than admit the truth, he carries on the ruse with the help of an eccentric teaching assistant. The film became such a success that it spawned two sequels: Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger! and Nativity 3: Dude, Where’s My Donkey?, all of which featured Ben Wilby reprising his role.

Ben later pursued formal training at Emil Dale Academy in Cambridge, a performing arts school known for preparing students for careers in acting. He has also found a new platform in TikTok, where he enjoys a following of over 80,000 fans. On the app, he often reminisces about his time in Nativity!, sharing behind-the-scenes insights and updates from his life today.

In one of his videos, Ben explains how he landed the role of Bob through an agency looking for “chatty kids who could dance and sing a little.” That unique blend of confidence and charisma made him an instant standout during casting.

Ben wasn’t the only young actor from Nativity! to stay in the public eye. Krista Hyatt, who played Becky, is now 25. Before the film’s release, she had already gained national attention as one half of the dance duo The Cheeky Monkeys, who reached the final of Britain’s Got Talent.

Charlie Dixon, who portrayed Thomas from the rival private school Oakmoor, also shared the screen with Krista. Meanwhile, Maeve Dolan – known for always wearing a stripy hat in the film – gave an unforgettable audition with her rendition of “Teenage Dirtbag”. Now 23, she’s reportedly studying at a university in London and regularly posts content on TikTok, where she chats about everything from knitting to Teen Wolf and university life.

While the children of Nativity! have clearly grown up, their roles continue to hold a special place in the hearts of fans who revisit the film each Christmas. And with many of them pursuing careers in entertainment, it’s clear the festive classic was only the beginning of their journey.