Posted by
Emmett of the Unblinking Eye on Monday, April 23, 2007 11:47:25 AM
I have a theory about French movies. Some French movies are very good; most are not. It's the latter that are shipped to America. Although that assessment may be a little harsh, anyone who has actually seen
One Sings, the Other Doesn't, has to admit that it may have some merit. But every once in a while I get roped into seeing one. And when the Enchanting Mrs. Eye speaks French like a native and just got home from spending a week in Straight Paree with one of the sties, a French movie must be endured.
So it's a pleasant surprise when a new French movie is actually worth seeing.
The Valet is the latest offering from the very talented French writer/director
Francis Verber, whose past credit include
La Cage Aux Folles,
The Closet and (my personal favorite)
The Dinner Game. While a poor automobile valet (
Gad Elmaleh) is being rejected by his inamorata (
Virginie Ledoyen), a selfish billionaire (the always-wonderful
Daniel Auteuil) is rejected by his super model mistress (
Alice Taglioni) for failing to get the promised divorce from his wife (
Kristin Scott Thomas). Due to a chance encounter, the valet winds up living with the super model so the billionaire can get on to the business of divorcing his wife -- or losing 20 million euros. Well, it plays better than it sounds.
Although the continuity is a little jumpy, and it almost certainly funnier if you are fluent in French (at least my wife seemed to be laughing hysterically when all us pure English speakers were staring dumbly at the screen), it's certainly worth seeing if you can find it at your local art house. Or you could just wait until the
Americanized version comes out in 2008.