Quartile rating: 6/10 · 1 rating
Urban horticulturalist Brontë Mitchell has her eye on a gorgeous apartment, but the building's board will rent it only to a married couple. Georges Fauré, a waiter from France whose visa is expiring, needs to marry an American woman to stay in the country. Their marriage of convenience turns into a burden when they must live together to allay the suspicions of the immigration service, as the polar opposites grate on each other's nerves.
Green Card is a competent but fairly formulaic romantic comedy built on the well-worn 'opposites attract through forced proximity' premise. The immigration marriage-of-convenience setup was not particularly fresh even in 1990. Gérard Depardieu brings genuine charisma and Andie MacDowell is serviceable, though the chemistry between them is inconsistent. Director Peter Weir shoots New York capably but without visual distinction — the cinematography is workmanlike rather than memorable. The plot follows a predictable arc with few surprises, and the ending, while emotionally satisfying enough, leans on sentiment over earned resolution. The film's modest charm comes from Depardieu's larger-than-life presence rather than any singular cinematic vision.