The Valet (2006)

Wonderful Movie

Beautiful, moving film.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Most Comedies even French comedies can be slapstick but not this one. It's truly believable as Francois Pignon, a valet at an upscale restaurant near the Eiffel Tower, is caught in a picture on Parisian streets with Daniel Auteil's character and the character's mistress, Elena. The casting is first rate as Daniel Auteil plays the businessman and adulterer. He is married to Kristin Scott Thomas's character. She's delightfully charming, shrewish, and quite clever to outsmart him or anybody else. She wants to catch his affair in order to win in the divorce. Auteil and Scott-Thomas are truly believable in their roles. Kristin Scott Thomas, a British actress, is truly perfect as a French socialite wife. The cast who plays Francois, Elena, and the supporting players are all first rate, believable, and definitely casted to perfection. The writing is also done well as if not to be outlandish or over the top. The story is pretty hard to believe but you believe it. It's a fun film to watch and entertaining for every minute of it.

I already liked this film before the opening credits were complete--they were so imaginative and fun. Plus, knowing that the same person who wrote and directed two of my favorite recent French comedies (THE DINNER GAME and THE CLOSET) made this film, it was a definite must-see.Now that I just finished watching it, I must say that I was once again very, very impressed. The film was everything I'd hoped it would be and then some. Francis Veber has once again done a great job--creating a lovely comedy that, unlike the other two films, has very strong romantic elements. In fact, I would say that this is a great date film--with plenty of laughs for the guys and lots of sweet scenes for the ladies.Gad Elmaleh (sort of a French version of Ray Romano in looks) plays François, a very decent valet who is desperately in love with Émilie. When he asks her to marry him, however, she turns him down--after all, he's only a valet and in her mind they are more like friends than lovers. François is heart-broken but into his sad life comes a chance encounter that changes everything. As he's walking down the street, he happens to walk by a rich industrialist (Daniel Auteuil) having an argument with his super-model mistress (Elena, played by Alice Taglioni). A photographer takes a photo and all three appear in it. To save his marriage (and all his wife's millions), Auteuil tells his wife that the guy and the girl in the photo are a couple and that the lady is NOT his mistress. To convince her of this, he pays François and Elena to pretend that they are, indeed, a couple. While it's very, very hard to imagine a beautiful and rich lady dating an ordinary guy, people start to believe it--even Auteuil!.The film is very, very smartly written. Many times, I assumed I knew what would happen next, but the film didn't go the expected route. Sure, it sometimes went in that general direction, but there were lots of nice twists and turns that kept the whole thing unpredictable and sweet. This also, of course, was the result of lovely direction and excellent acting all around. While Auteuil was wonderful, this is pretty much expected--as he's one of the best French actors today. But, I was also very impressed by two others--Gad Elmaleh (who I'd never seen before in a film but played one of the most decent people you could meet) and Dany Boon--who did a great job in a small supporting role. I loved Boon in another recent film where he starred with Auteuil, MY BEST FRIEND (Mon meilleur ami)--another film you should see.Overall, there was nothing I didn't like about this film and I can't wait to recommend it to others. I won't give it a 10 because I very rarely do that, but this is a truly special film. Plus, while I loved the two other Veber films I mentioned in the first paragraph, I actually think I liked this one best--great job!!

Parrallel to La Muestra International De Cine, the last Thursday starts this little festival of french films in Mexico City, i say little because is only one week and only in one cinema. But i found this very good just for the chance to see different films and also because the cast and crew of most of the films (there are 12 films in total) came to Mexico City.Yesterday i have the chance to see this film, the first that i see of this festival and i like it. Is a simple and nice comedy about Pignon, a man who is offered to live with a top model ( an offer that nobody can't refuse) just for save the marriage of a millionaire who is the lover of the top model.Maybe the plot is not great and is not very real, i mean i don't think that a supermodel is like the one of the film, but the film carry out with the principal and unique point: entertain.I mean i really laugh a lot, especially in the beginning when Pignon is still living with his friend and the relation between Pignon's father and his doctor is nothing but hilarious.So i really recommend this film if you want to see just a nice comedy.Well after watch one film of this festival and other of La Muestra International De Cine ( the two festivals right now in Mexico City), i have more desires of watch another of this festival.

This film is hilarious. The set up is a bit unbelievable, but the actors make it work - and mostly believably. The model in the film is refreshingly genuinely nice and not a caricature of a "supermodel." The depth of the main unwitting character, the valet himself, is a bit lacking - but hey, he is charming, as is the rest of the cast. Besides, since he is lovesick, perhaps his lack of depth is at least understandable. The feel of the movie is also quite uplifting - the bad guy loses in the end, and the good guys win. The ride is just fun, and filled with twists and turns, most of which the audience gets to be in on. The only character that was TOO shallow was the valet's girlfriend - she just didn't seem to be worth all the fuss, to me. I don't understand the PG-13 rating - it is not vulgar nor is there any nudity.