This adult French comedy can be extremely funny at times, but can also wander off into implausibility especially in the second half of the film.
Isabelle Huppert, whom I would rate as one of the great actresses of our time, stars as Agathe Novic, a museum art gallery director. She can be quite brusque, imperious, and sarcastic. She's living with Francois, who's a publisher, portrayed by the veteran actor Andre Dussolier. They are the parents of Adrien (Donatien Suner) who is friends with Tony (Corentin Devroey).
One day Tony's father comes to pick up his son at Agathe and Francois' apartment. That's when the fun really starts. Tony's father, Patrick Demeuleu, magnificently played by the Belgian actor Benoit Poelvoorde, is a lewd, crude, and vulgar construction worker but is also quite a likable guy. I recently saw Poelvoorde in the movie "Romantics Anonymous" where he played a completely divergent character, as an extremely shy owner of a chocolate factory. This contrast really illustrates his versatility.
Francois takes a liking to Patrick and hires him to complete the re-modeling of his and Agathe's apartment. Sparks and hilarity fly as Agathe and Patrick play off each other.
The film then veers off into various subplots such as Child Protective Services looking for Patrick and Tony, being concerned that he's not getting the proper care. Also, Francois fed up with Agathe's iciness takes up with a much younger woman (Virginie Efira) and leaves the apartment. To me, when the film went in these directions it often lost it's way.
Certainly, the best scenes are between Agathe and Patrick. One night, after drinking way too much they end up in bed. From, there all kinds of surprising, and sometimes implausible plot twists occur. Huppert is such an amazing actress that you just never know what she's going to say or do next, which adds to the fun.
All in all, I felt that when the movie worked it really worked and when it didn't it faltered. However, based on the wonderful performances by Huppert and Poolvoorde and the strong laughs I took out of it, I would rate it favorably.
Isabelle Huppert, whom I would rate as one of the great actresses of our time, stars as Agathe Novic, a museum art gallery director. She can be quite brusque, imperious, and sarcastic. She's living with Francois, who's a publisher, portrayed by the veteran actor Andre Dussolier. They are the parents of Adrien (Donatien Suner) who is friends with Tony (Corentin Devroey).
One day Tony's father comes to pick up his son at Agathe and Francois' apartment. That's when the fun really starts. Tony's father, Patrick Demeuleu, magnificently played by the Belgian actor Benoit Poelvoorde, is a lewd, crude, and vulgar construction worker but is also quite a likable guy. I recently saw Poelvoorde in the movie "Romantics Anonymous" where he played a completely divergent character, as an extremely shy owner of a chocolate factory. This contrast really illustrates his versatility.
Francois takes a liking to Patrick and hires him to complete the re-modeling of his and Agathe's apartment. Sparks and hilarity fly as Agathe and Patrick play off each other.
The film then veers off into various subplots such as Child Protective Services looking for Patrick and Tony, being concerned that he's not getting the proper care. Also, Francois fed up with Agathe's iciness takes up with a much younger woman (Virginie Efira) and leaves the apartment. To me, when the film went in these directions it often lost it's way.
Certainly, the best scenes are between Agathe and Patrick. One night, after drinking way too much they end up in bed. From, there all kinds of surprising, and sometimes implausible plot twists occur. Huppert is such an amazing actress that you just never know what she's going to say or do next, which adds to the fun.
All in all, I felt that when the movie worked it really worked and when it didn't it faltered. However, based on the wonderful performances by Huppert and Poolvoorde and the strong laughs I took out of it, I would rate it favorably.