Dir: Patrice Leconte With: Daniel Auteuil, Julie Gayet, Dany Boon With Daniel Auteuil (Jean de Florette, Un Coeur en Hiver) leading and Patrice Leconte (The Man on the Train) directing, fans of French cinema will be expecting something special. So-so is nearer the mark for this comedy-drama that's heavier on the latter than the former.
Auteuil plays the lugubrious Francois, a Parisien antiques dealer who is teased by his business partner (Julie Gayet) about his lack of friends. He bets an expensive vase that he has a best pal, and will introduce her to him within 10 days. The hunt for a chum is handled amusingly enough, but once Dany Boon's amiable taxi driver turns up we can see exactly where the film is headed. All the elements are here for a memorable, Odd Couple-type comedy, yet Boon and Auteuil struggle under the weight of a flat script and a downbeat mood.
Edinburgh Filmhouse and Glasgow Film Theatre
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