If you're a Cole Porter fan you might like the songs in De-Lovely, but as a portrait of an unusual marriage it's de-lumbering, de-liberate and de-cidedly flat.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
Openly gay and overwhelmingly glum.
ReelViews by James Berardinelli
As a bio-pic, De-Lovely is pretty standard, run-of-the-mill stuff (albeit with an interesting framing device). However, as a "best hits" collection of Cole Porter's music, it is unparalleled.
The Hollywood Reporter by Kirk Honeycutt
A sprightly musical revue built around Cole Porter songs and a few biographical tidbits culled from his extraordinary life.
Though director Irwin Winkler takes pains to accurately present Cole's life (unlike "Night and Day," the 1946 biopic starring Cary Grant), the film has its shortcomings. First of which is pushing the love story, when it's clear Linda's feelings aren't reciprocated.
Chicago Tribune by Michael Wilmington
Kline, though, does give one of the great movie performances of the year so far.
Entertainment Weekly by Owen Gleiberman
De-Lovely is something dishy and rare: a biopic about a happy, and even enchanted, man.
Rolling Stone by Peter Travers
At its best, De-Lovely evokes a time, a place and a sound with stylish wit and sophistication.
If Porter's songs are so timeless, why does the movie sound like something that might have played on VH1 five years ago?
Benefits greatly from Kevin Kline's outstanding performance as the ultra-sophisticated songwriter whose resilient marriage anchored a complicated double life.