ChanFamous I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

Jonah Abbott There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

Kaelan Mccaffrey Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Ella-May O'Brien Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Nicole C It is quite refreshing to watch a film set somewhere different from Hollywood films, and I think this film quite authentically represented the atmosphere of Beirut. My friend tells me that the salon where the girls work at is actually an abandoned store, but it looks pretty good. Decorations and mise-en-scene do a good job adding to the whole setting of the place.The acting was good and I really like the chemistry between them. The four friends: Layale, Nisrine, Rima and Jamale seem like they have known each other for quite some time and their conversations with each other are comfortable. The actresses did well in conveying the friendships between their characters. Haddad as Rose did a fantastic job as well. Her energy is constantly being drained by Lili, and what really got me were her expressions and the heartbreaking scene when she cries. I almost very nearly cried myself. Semaan does a great job as Lili too, so good that I don't even know if she is actually acting.The script does well in connecting these characters together, and their banter is appreciable. This is quite a comedic drama, and was indeed very enjoyable to watch. I must confess that Lili is by far the most comedic characters in this film, though she is also the most frustrating. The script is well written and keeps the film going smoothly and continuously.One thing that really has me thinking is that this film is based on these women trying to find love and peace, and the way that some of them attain this is through cultural norms that suppress women. I don't want to give the ending away, but let's just say that there is not really closure, but a emphasis on friendship instead.Read more movie reviews at: championangels.wordpress.com

filmalamosa I watched this film for one reason = it gives the viewer a look at life in Beirut. The story is innocent it is about a woman who owns a beauty shop Si Belle and the 3 other women who work in the shop.It has humor and also details various problems they are having in their lives... a non virgin getting married...a older one who wants to be an actress. And the main character who is having an affair with a married policeman.It is not exceptionally good or bad...however the crazy old lady got on your nerves after awhile.Watch it for the reason I did only.

thisissubtitledmovies When a foreign film manages to make that break across the border and garner international success there's often the expectation that it should act as an ambassador for its country of origin, especially when that nation is not known for its prolific cinematic output. But where does that leave Nadine Labaki's Lebanese romance Caramel? Can any film successfully walk that balance between the light-hearted and the weighty? Caramel may flirt with the anachronistic studio-era concept of being a 'woman's picture' but when the only current offering for strong female leads in cinemas sees entire platoons of the Boots 'here come the girls' set marching blindly into cinemas to watch four over-paid harridans bemoaning the lack of haute couture in Abu Dhabi there has never been a better time to discover the mature and believable view of romance purported by Caramel. Who says rom coms have to be dumb screen fodder? JB

Movie Gurl ALERT!! CONTAINS Spoilers What a nice independent morsel this movie, Caramel, is!!! It is uniquely positioned to fall into the dramedy category (a comedy and drama amalgamation). Heres the plot be warned in advance, there are spoilers so turn back now if you don't want the entire scoop. Caramel mainly centers on the daily lives of five Lebanese women living in Beirut. Layal (Nadine Labaki) works in a beauty salon in Beirut along with three other women. While not completely clear who works there and who is merely a client, it is clear that this is the Waiting to Exhale for the Lebanese. Each female lead has a problem: Layal has a relationship with a married man, Nisrine (Yasmine Al Masri) is engaged to be married but we soon learn she did not await the wedding/marriage ceremony to consummate the union, Rima (Joanna Moukarzel) is attracted to a beautiful client who frequents the shop (a female client) and Jamal (Gisèle Aouad) is worried about growing older and will go to elaborate means to appear younger. Lastly, there's Rose (Sihame Haddad), a tailor with a shop next to the salon. Rose, an older female character, has clearly devoted her life to take care of her older sister who has dementia. But just when her life should be ramping down, she starts to feel a spark of attraction with a male customer that constantly needs tailoring to his suits. Lets explore Layals character a bit more. She is troubled over her relationship with a married man. Moments that are stolen away either in a car parked in a desolate place or moments taken via cell phone while hiding in the bathroom are no longer enough she makes plans to meet him at a hotel for a romantic rendezvous but he does not show up . . . leaving Layal in tears, leaning on her friends and finally in a place to notice a young police officer that is longing to be her suitor. True intensity develops as the wife of her lover comes into the shop for beauty services. The wife does not know Layals secret but Layal knows who she is. Then there is Rose, who is exhausted and weighted by her duties as caregiver. She was asked on a date by the gentleman customer and she went to the salon to get all made up. Unfortunately, while she was applying her makeup, her sister begins banging on the door as she often does, and then in a heartbreaking scene, it is then that Rose knows that her life will not ever be hers. This is a web of story lines but it is very easy to follow even with the English subtitles. Its daring, given its country of origin and worth the hour and a half spent indulging in this prickly, sweet Caramel.