This film is not necessarily fast paced, so it's not for people who have the habit of checking their phone during presentation. Some yokes are subtly prepared for quite some time, and are probably being missed, if attention wanders to what Niki or Ariana are up to these days.
On the other hand this feature is a great pleasure for people with some patience. It shows a lot of respect and understanding for its characters, and even the annoying ones get their moments of greatness. Its humour is far away from embarrassing its protagonists, and the laughter stems from compassion not farts.
17 Reviews
A posh French wedding turns chaotic, then harmonious
maurice_yacowar8 February 2018
Warning: Spoilers
This hilarious French comedy was originally titled Le sens de la fete. For some reason, that was translated for the international market to C'est la vie. Who knows why. Perhaps to impose a more reassuring, because familiar, attitude.
For this is life, where the best planned parties run disastrous. A lavish wedding in a 17th Century mansion goes manically awry. The anatomy of a crumbling posh wedding evokes Altman's The Wedding, of course, but the new film is not as biting.
This aims for humour rather than satire. It soft-pedals any political themes. The waiters' spokesman fails to serve his comrades, when they're required to wear heavy period costumes and wigs. The workers give in but without anger. Indeed, despite the event director's furious tirade against his staff, the "magic" of the event takes hold and he abandons his plan to sell out and retire.
Though the groom is an upper class twit, the film ignores class prejudice. The servants slip easily into the guests' activities when it appears necessary for them to hide from an inspector. The groom's mother has a fling with the photographer with whom she has been squabbling.
So, too, the romance that erupts between the seedy substitute singer and the director's angry assistant. Their relationship moves from antagonism to love, with dramatic effect.
Through the evening even the event director loses then wins back the assistant he has been having an affair with. Happily, his wife calls to suggest they separate because she has her own new lover.
So this wedding, through all its chaos and frantic adapting, manages to achieve love on several fronts, to change discord into harmony.
The ex-teacher waiter who still adores the bride is a familiar French type, the grammatical pedant correcting everyone. For all his punctilious language, though, he slops around in what look like pyjamas ("They're hybrid") and encourages the director, his brother-in-law, to leave his marriage.
France's immigrant class is acknowledged in the Sri Lankan dishwashers, who periodically joke about their new society but are happy to integrate. Passing references to their having their own band and a confusion between two kinds of flute set up the late-night jam between the booked band and the dishwashers' that closes the night and the film on a note of high harmony. This is a feel-good film.
Made me laugh in my hybrid pyjamas
maccas-5636713 March 2021
Enjoyable enough French film that made me laugh out loud numerous times. It also gave me something resembling borderline PTSD flashbacks to my former hospitality and events career.
The characters are all rather unique and funny in their own ways, without all being truly memorable. I mainly just remember the names of the groom (Pierre) and the pervy photographer (Guy). The man character delivered a great performance - though it was the supporting cast that provided the majority of laughs.
Beautiful setting in that French chateau. Some excellent scenes towards the end involving some fireworks and "aerial" display. The movie itself is fast paced, with rapid fire dialogue throughout. Perhaps slightly too long in length.
The bloke in the hybrid pyjamas was the best part. Will forever make me smile.
The characters are all rather unique and funny in their own ways, without all being truly memorable. I mainly just remember the names of the groom (Pierre) and the pervy photographer (Guy). The man character delivered a great performance - though it was the supporting cast that provided the majority of laughs.
Beautiful setting in that French chateau. Some excellent scenes towards the end involving some fireworks and "aerial" display. The movie itself is fast paced, with rapid fire dialogue throughout. Perhaps slightly too long in length.
The bloke in the hybrid pyjamas was the best part. Will forever make me smile.
Nakache and Toledano strike again
Horst_In_Translation1 February 2018
Warning: Spoilers
"Le sens de la fête" or "C'est la vie!" is a new French 2-hour movie that was released in Germany just today and this one was written and directed by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, the duo that is of course still mostly known for their work Intouchables from a few years ago. This one here may not trump the success of the aforementioned, but I think it also becomes pretty famous, also has some really solid awards attention and I am glad about that as I enjoyed the watch myself too. The entire film basically takes place on one day as we follow a team of wedding planners the night of the wedding and see their struggles, often very funny struggles, in turning this into a night to remember for the right reasons. I would say that the film needs a little while to get going and the first half hour or so isn't too great really, but almost everything afterwards is highly entertaining. My favorite moment is maybe the police officer / bull reference that was also in the trailer, but I think nobody in the room found it as funny as me and the one who decided to put it in the trailer. Apart from that, I also really liked the socket reference with the meat that turned foul because one character put his electric razor in. That was really hilarious. Weaker moments include the romance parts between the singer and the female organizer that sometimes only felt included to make sure we never think the singer is racist, thus also the black band member I guess. These two had zero chemistry. At least when they let the balloon loose and it flew away, this was still a funny scene for other reasons than the kissing. Love and romance are common subjects here on other occasions too, like one crew member's affection for the bride that luckily from a perspective of realism did not mount into something bigger then, even if the unlikable groom would have deserved it. God he was unbearable... The balloon scene was just the icing on the cake. I think I have to give the actor credit for that. Other than that there are some pretty funny recurring jokes too like the guy stating the obvious constantly or the illegal employee parts. Overall, I think this was a very funny film. The amount of jokes is really very big quantity-wise for sure and while obviously not everyone can be a winnert, I was still impressed that hardly none of them were unfunny and most were fairly hilarious. Good job to the writers for sure. Only parts like the beginning and the unrealistic power shift at the ending are the reason why I cannot give this more than 3 stars out of 5. In-between, it could at times still be considered one of the very best and funniest comedy films of 2017, if we go by the original release date. Almost all characters are interesting and entertaining without ever getting gimmicky in a bad way I would say. And the music was good too, especially the inclusion of one really catchy song. Without hesitation, I recommend seeing this movie. These 2 hours went by very quickly thanks to a whole bunch of characters that you enjoyed seeing. If they ever made a sequel to this one, which certainly is an option given the ending, then I think I'd watch this one too pretty safely. Thumbs up for this film that has not one performance or character really stand out, but it's an amazing ensemble cast turn. Positive recommendation for sure.
A joyful parenthesis
laurent-milot17 September 2017
"C'est la vie" is a hilarious movie, but also very french, which is both a great thing, as its humour captures very well some subtleties about the french, and a weakness, as some north-American critics may not appreciate these subtleties, as they aren't as "in your face" as often seen. But from a French pov, this is an absolute pleasure. First and foremost, Jean-Pierre Bacri does "du Bacri", and this from the onset. The laughs are loud, the control and pace perfect. From that point on, this great ensemble will carry the movie from surreal situations to absurd quid pro quo leaving the audience in tears from laughs and deeply satisfied. In days and age where everything is so serious, don't feel guilty to enjoy this joyful parenthesis.
Something subtle missing
exisce3 February 2019
I understand where this movie was going; the problem is it never got there. I love French cinema, and "C'est la vie" is a good specimen of a French comedy turned food for thought about life and all the ordinary and extraordinary things it has to offer. The film has some French humor (albeit the "some" is on the "little" side), convincing cast, but the lack of plot and development makes it wander toward unsubstantial details, which ultimately makes it boring. The details are poorly organized around the main message of the movie, and the message itself is a little vague. Overall, I recommend it to French cinema fans, but others will probably find it slow and boring.
Subtle, thoughtful, keenly observed comedy - SUBLIME
adrian-4376713 January 2018
Directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano had already come up with a masterpiece in 2011: LES INTOUCHABLES, brimming with joie de vivre despite the physical and social limitations of the two main characters, brilliantly played by François Cluzet and Omar Sy.
That same zest for life is present in LE SENS DE LA FÊTE, and certainly the acting is of the highest order once again. Were this an American film, and Jean-Pierre Bacri would certainly have received an Oscar nomination. His control over his party function team, his business sense, his perceptiveness of his troop members' moods, and even his occasionally deadpan moments render his performance sublime, possibly the most complete, subtle, and perceptive I watched in 2017.
There are many other performers in this film but that never detracts from the film's focus and all of them do an excellent job of raising this film to the highest levels of comedy, including two Indians from the Punjab who have some of the peachiest small parts I have watched in the recent past.
From the above, it is easy to conclude that dialogue is sharp and funny, as characters find themselves in all manner of laughable, embarrassing, sexy, unprofessional, and other situations. Perhaps the screenplay's greatest merit is that it keeps subtly misleading the viewer into believing that the outcome of a given sequence will be this or that - to be sure, you never get the pat solution!
Photography is excellent, especially the night shots and the sequence involving a balloon in flight. Soundtrack is very appropriate, never interfering, but always helping to give substance to the film.
Finally - please forgive me if I repeat my introduction - what a great job of directing!
This is one of the best, subtlest and most sublime comedies I have ever had the privilege to watch. I was really sorry to see the credits roll up at the end. and that's not what I feel about many movies these days.
Masterpiece - 10/10
That same zest for life is present in LE SENS DE LA FÊTE, and certainly the acting is of the highest order once again. Were this an American film, and Jean-Pierre Bacri would certainly have received an Oscar nomination. His control over his party function team, his business sense, his perceptiveness of his troop members' moods, and even his occasionally deadpan moments render his performance sublime, possibly the most complete, subtle, and perceptive I watched in 2017.
There are many other performers in this film but that never detracts from the film's focus and all of them do an excellent job of raising this film to the highest levels of comedy, including two Indians from the Punjab who have some of the peachiest small parts I have watched in the recent past.
From the above, it is easy to conclude that dialogue is sharp and funny, as characters find themselves in all manner of laughable, embarrassing, sexy, unprofessional, and other situations. Perhaps the screenplay's greatest merit is that it keeps subtly misleading the viewer into believing that the outcome of a given sequence will be this or that - to be sure, you never get the pat solution!
Photography is excellent, especially the night shots and the sequence involving a balloon in flight. Soundtrack is very appropriate, never interfering, but always helping to give substance to the film.
Finally - please forgive me if I repeat my introduction - what a great job of directing!
This is one of the best, subtlest and most sublime comedies I have ever had the privilege to watch. I was really sorry to see the credits roll up at the end. and that's not what I feel about many movies these days.
Masterpiece - 10/10
Don't believe reviewers here who say on needs to appreciate French humor -- this was a flop panned by critics in France
random-707786 August 2019
I just hate it where user reviews say one has to understand French humor, sensibility or French cinema to write apologist for a botched french film.
This film is just terrible -- and it was panned by French critics and a FLOP in France.
This film is just terrible -- and it was panned by French critics and a FLOP in France.
Quite watchable!
christian_fournier18 March 2024
Let's face it: the film has a slow start and the pace is leisurely. But the psychological portraits are finely chiseled, and this microcosm of a catering outfit is endearing. Many of the foibles (& strengths) of French society are painted with a light touch, up to and including the marriage customs of up and coming -but not quite upper class- wealthy patrons. Some of the characters appear a bit exaggerated, but after all they may well have been painted from real-life models.
I can understand why critics on both sides of the Pond have snubbed this movie; but I believe it to be quite watchable, with many episodes which are funny or touching. My vote is 7/10.
I can understand why critics on both sides of the Pond have snubbed this movie; but I believe it to be quite watchable, with many episodes which are funny or touching. My vote is 7/10.
Best laugh of 2017
Padman-221 December 2017
What an amazing movie. Details, locations, conversations, all with a twist. Long time I had such a laugh in the movie theater.
The title does not cover the movie at all. Myself I was a bit reluctant to go out and watch this, but hey this is a must-go-see for everybody who likes french humor, but not over the top.
Bad
zicteban5 February 2018
Everything seems artificial or pretty caricatural: characters, dialogues, situations like the quarrel in front of the castle at the beginning. You can not avoid having very quickly a feeling of a gross and clumsy comedy. As the movie goes on, you expect a storyline a bit more subtle but nothing different happens. Your initial impression grows more and more till becoming a mere and strong matter of fact: this movie is a pure failure aimed at entertaining typical right-thinking people.
A great mix of fun, emotion, and gravity
guy-bellinger26 February 2021
Max has been a caterer for 30 years: he has successfully organized hundreds of parties but now he's a bit at the end of his rope. Well today, what luck! he finds himself in charge of a sublime wedding party in the most sumptuous setting, a 17th century castle. But, for various reasons, disaster threatens at any time...
This is not the first film about a wedding that goes sour ("A Wedding" by Altman being the ultimate prototype) but this one, signed by the serviceable Nakache and Toledano ("Those Happy Days", "The Intouchables ") is one of the most successful. Not content to be written with finesse and skillfully directed (despite all the difficulties presented by the genre of choral film) "Le Sens de la fête" can boast of functioning on several levels, which raises it well above a simple comedy. It is both documentary (the functioning of a whole brigade under the direction of a caterer) and social (the vicissitudes of a small business, the working conditions of its employees in the face of these wealthy people who treat themselves to a 200 hundred-cover banquet in a manor), psychological (a whole range of individuals are studied under a magnifying glass) and sociological (the problem of immigration, already addressed in "Samba", illustrated here by the fate of Tamil employees); all this without any of these dimensions getting in the way of funny situations and dialogues. A bit of suspense (how will Max and his team cope when disasters pile up?), a hint of poetry (the bridegroom and the balloon in the night) and a great collective interpretation, led by a Jean-Pierre Bacri, grumpy as expected but also overflowing with humanity. Let yourself be tempted by this tasty cocktail with the perfect mix of fun, emotion, and gravity. You won't regret it.
This is not the first film about a wedding that goes sour ("A Wedding" by Altman being the ultimate prototype) but this one, signed by the serviceable Nakache and Toledano ("Those Happy Days", "The Intouchables ") is one of the most successful. Not content to be written with finesse and skillfully directed (despite all the difficulties presented by the genre of choral film) "Le Sens de la fête" can boast of functioning on several levels, which raises it well above a simple comedy. It is both documentary (the functioning of a whole brigade under the direction of a caterer) and social (the vicissitudes of a small business, the working conditions of its employees in the face of these wealthy people who treat themselves to a 200 hundred-cover banquet in a manor), psychological (a whole range of individuals are studied under a magnifying glass) and sociological (the problem of immigration, already addressed in "Samba", illustrated here by the fate of Tamil employees); all this without any of these dimensions getting in the way of funny situations and dialogues. A bit of suspense (how will Max and his team cope when disasters pile up?), a hint of poetry (the bridegroom and the balloon in the night) and a great collective interpretation, led by a Jean-Pierre Bacri, grumpy as expected but also overflowing with humanity. Let yourself be tempted by this tasty cocktail with the perfect mix of fun, emotion, and gravity. You won't regret it.
C' est excellent!
soprano-697074 January 2021
It made my evening!
plupu662 July 2023
What a funny - while subtle and sensitive film.
Under the guise of a posh wedding at a castle in France - where little goes as planned, the film takes aim at French society (in general).
Funny moments abound - from slapstick, to word play, to delightful chaos, to more subtle allusions. Knowing a thing or two about French humour, culture and society may definitely help one enjoy it even more.
Even if you don't know much about the French and their quirks, you may still enjoy the film and maybe develop a taste for their delightful tongue-in-cheek situations.
After the film ended (and I stopped laughing) I realized how multilayered and subtle the film was.
Warning: if you are into Hollywood stuff, you may NOT find this one up your alley.
Under the guise of a posh wedding at a castle in France - where little goes as planned, the film takes aim at French society (in general).
Funny moments abound - from slapstick, to word play, to delightful chaos, to more subtle allusions. Knowing a thing or two about French humour, culture and society may definitely help one enjoy it even more.
Even if you don't know much about the French and their quirks, you may still enjoy the film and maybe develop a taste for their delightful tongue-in-cheek situations.
After the film ended (and I stopped laughing) I realized how multilayered and subtle the film was.
Warning: if you are into Hollywood stuff, you may NOT find this one up your alley.
Terrible, too much ressources, lacking inspiration
pierrebarberis25 March 2018
Toledano and Co did well in "serious" dramatic movies. here they deliver a pathetic attempt to turn Bacris's talent and grumpiness into a subtle form of comedy, it's a TOTAL FAILURE, but for the last 10 min of this movie, ifyou are still in the room watching it!.
Que aburrimiento. What boredom
Andres-Camara18 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
La verdad es que esperaba reírme con esta película. Con tan buena prensa, tantas nominaciones. Pero la verdad es que se me ha hecho larga, muy larga. No me he reído nada. No sé si es que Jean-Pierre Bacri no sabe hacer otro papel, pero es que siempre le veo en el mismo y ya llega a aburrirme su sola presencia. ¿Pero quien se cree que pueda tener tanto éxito en el amor?
A los diez minutos estaba como los invitados de la boda con el discurso del novio.
No me interesaba nada de lo que pasaba. Y tiene tantos clichés que no caben más.
Los actores, me saturan la mayoría.
La iluminación, es una película de comedia, pero si le ayudas con la iluminación pues un poco mejor, pero no, ¿para qué? Pues luego pasa lo que pasa, que quedan así las cosas, mal.
El director, no ha sabido hacerla divertida, que era el mínimo que tendría que hacer. No sabe poner la cámara para narrar. Y encima no sabe que nos aburre.
Y cuantas más así, nos quedan por ver.
The truth is that I expected to laugh with this movie. With such a good press, so many nominations. But the truth is that it has been long, very long. I have not laughed at anything. I do not know if Jean-Pierre Bacri does not know how to play another role, but I always see him in it and his presence just bores me. But who thinks he can be so successful in love?
Ten minutes later I was like the wedding guests with the groom's speech.
I was not interested in anything that happened. And it has so many clichés that it does not fit anymore.
The actors saturate me the most.
The lighting is a comedy movie, but if you help with the lighting a little better, but not, why? Well, then what happens happens, things stay that way, badly.
The director, he has not known how to make it fun, that was the minimum he would have to do. He does not know how to put the camera to narrate. And above does not know that bores us.
And the more so, we have yet to see.
A los diez minutos estaba como los invitados de la boda con el discurso del novio.
No me interesaba nada de lo que pasaba. Y tiene tantos clichés que no caben más.
Los actores, me saturan la mayoría.
La iluminación, es una película de comedia, pero si le ayudas con la iluminación pues un poco mejor, pero no, ¿para qué? Pues luego pasa lo que pasa, que quedan así las cosas, mal.
El director, no ha sabido hacerla divertida, que era el mínimo que tendría que hacer. No sabe poner la cámara para narrar. Y encima no sabe que nos aburre.
Y cuantas más así, nos quedan por ver.
The truth is that I expected to laugh with this movie. With such a good press, so many nominations. But the truth is that it has been long, very long. I have not laughed at anything. I do not know if Jean-Pierre Bacri does not know how to play another role, but I always see him in it and his presence just bores me. But who thinks he can be so successful in love?
Ten minutes later I was like the wedding guests with the groom's speech.
I was not interested in anything that happened. And it has so many clichés that it does not fit anymore.
The actors saturate me the most.
The lighting is a comedy movie, but if you help with the lighting a little better, but not, why? Well, then what happens happens, things stay that way, badly.
The director, he has not known how to make it fun, that was the minimum he would have to do. He does not know how to put the camera to narrate. And above does not know that bores us.
And the more so, we have yet to see.
See also
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