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Guide Picks - Top French Comedies on DVD |
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French film has a bad rep for being talky and ponderous, and Americans'
idea of the Gallic sense of humor usually involves misguided notions about
Jerry Lewis. All the more reason to check out some geniunely side-splitting
exports rather than the half-assed American remakes. Très rigolo!
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1) La
Cage Aux Folles
Robin Williams and Nathan Lane's "Birdcage" remake has nothing
on the original gay farce set on the French Riviera. One of the funniest
comedies, in any language.
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2) Mr.
Hulot's Holiday
Jacques Tati's Mr. Hulot is one of the great classic creations of film humor,
and this subtle and riveting film bears watching and rewatching, making
it a perfect DVD investment. Given the loving restoration and copious extra
features on this Criterion release, this is a no-brainer for any self-respecting
DVD collection.
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3) The
Visitors
Another huge success that was remade to lukewarm reviews in the U.S. An
outrageous story of time travel pits medieval knights against the 20th century.
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4) Delicatessen
Jeunet and Caro's wildy inventive "Delicatessen" is set in a bizarre
future where underground frog people fight against the Cannibals on the
surface, and an amorous clown is caught in the middle. Or something like
that.
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5) The
Closet
Daniel Auteil and Gerard Depardieu star in this hilarious story of a worker
in a condom factory who pretends to be gay to keep his job.
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6) Le
Million
This 1931 musical comedy about a lost lottery ticket, polished and restored
for this Criterion release, is as funny today as it was in the early
days of the talkies.
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7) The
Dinner Game
Another uproarious farce by Francis Veber (whose back catalogue, including
the Pierre Richard classics, still awaits DVD release). "The Dinner
Game" is mean, smart, and viciously funny.
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8) Buffet
Froid
Bertrand Blier's surreal adventure stars Gerard Depardieu as luckless murder
who gets drawn deeper and deeper into a strange underworld where assassins
and policemen get drunk together. Offbeat, surprising, and hilariously
dark.
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