Ace of Aces (1982)

Absolutely the worst movie.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

Blistering performances.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

"L'as des as" or "Ace of Aces" or "Das As der Asse" is a co-production between West German and France that resulted in a 100-minute movie from 1982, so this one has its 35th anniversary this year. The writer and director is Gérard Oury, also a prolific actor himself, but here he was in charge behind the camera. The star in here is Jean-Paul Belmondo, certainly a known name to many. And he plays a (former) boxer who is traveling to Berlin in 1936 in order to help his fighters win a (gold) medal. So yes this is a Nazi-themed movie. Actually the beginning is even a World War I reference. And Hitler is included on several occasions. However, this film should not be taken seriously from a historic perspective. As so many other times with Belmondo, it is all about the comedy. The way Hitler gets made fun of for his WWI military action and for his disapproval of Jesse Owens' successes says it all basically and it is pretty hilarious. The film apparently tries to become a bit more serious when it brings in a Jewish orphan boy that Belmondo's character has to help, so that he will not get caught by the Nazis. So yes, there are some more serious moments in there, but honestly these did not work out well and it's also not half the tear-jerk material they want it to be.I must say I like the film in the first 45 minutes perhaps, but then it got worse and worse. Had it been from start to finish, I'd have given it a 6/10 for sure, but the longer it went, the more absurd it became really Such a shame. It also feels the action moves further and further away from Belmondo. At the very end, at the Nazis headquarter and with the Führer himself very present, it just hits rock-bottom and it just isn't funny anymore, at least not to me. It was a decent watch when they were making a comedy that delivered solid jokes in the face of the historical context and not just shove it all into our faces while losing all subtlety. It seems that the drag approach to humor was pretty present in the 1980s, but it almost never works out and also not in this one here I guess. So all in all, I give this film a thumbs-down. The inclusion of Marie-France Pisier was also disappointing. I guess they wanted to come up with a female love interest under any circumstance, but they complete forgot to elaborate convincingly on her and eventually it is the same as if they had left her out completely. I suggest you watch something else or switch it off halfway into the movie because that's when it all goes south.

Enjoyable adventure full of fights, chases, lots of laughs and good clean fun with a resourceful hero (Jean-Paul Belmondo), trainer of the French boxing team, a beautiful journalist he fancies (Marie-France Pisier), a brave little German boy he takes a liking to (Rachid Ferrache) and a bear cub named Beethoven who just tags along. Starting in the air over the Western Front during 1916, the film moves from Paris to the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin to Berchtesgaden. There the boy's Jewish family, trying to escape to Austria, end up by mistake in the Berghof and are welcomed, if that is the word, by Hitler's grim sister (Günter Meisner in drag). Given instruments and ordered to play music for the company, they alternate with a Bavarian oompah band on the terrace. In a surreal sequence, the dancers in Alpine costume switch between the local Schuhplattler and a swooping Jewish dance. To get the family over the frontier to safety, Belmondo dresses as an SS officer and steals the Führer's car. A light-hearted romp that does not conceal the darkness of the time when it is set or the worse that was to follow.

World War I and II have always been a good setting for European cinema as different films have been made by France, Germany and Italy which speak about two major conflicts which have brought mankind close to the brink of disaster. As we discuss the portrayal of wars in cinema, we need to mention that it is the French directors who have portrayed world wars in a comic fashion as opposed to the seriousness which a war film demands. Hence, it is with immense pride can one state that a long time before Italian comedy actor/director Roberto Benigni (Life is beautiful), French cinema was the first national cinema to give comic touches to wars especially in their humorous portrayal of Nazism. For example : PAPY FAIT DE LA RESISTANCE directed by Jean-Marie Poiré. Ace of aces is one such film which recreates the magic of comedy during a war by lampooning Nazi soldiers and their leader Adolf Hitler who were in power in Germany during 11th Summer Olympic Games which were held in 1936 in Berlin. For this film, French superstar Jean-Paul Belmondo is paired with Marie-France Pisier who get rid of their differences in order to help a Jewish family. It is not only the star cast which has worked wonders for this film as Gérard Oury has added too many popular cinema elements to make his film a nice viewing experience for all types of viewers regardless of their age or taste. One gets to see an incredible chase of airplanes in the skies, a French boxing team, a bear in a car chased by Nazi soldiers, Der Fuehrer 'Adolf Hitler' and his sister and even a short documentary footage of American sprinter Jesse Owens. You would not hesitate in watching this film as it represents a true example of light comedy in cinema if you have already enjoyed and seen 'La Grande Vadrouille'.

This must me my Belmondo's all time favorite. Off course do not take it to serious, think it is historically correct or make the mistake to think it is realistic. Step into this movie with an open mind and you get rewarded because this is AN ALL TIME FAMILY COMEDY CLASSIC.An absolute magnificent combination of gags, jokes and fun during the Olympic Games in Berlin late 1930's. You can watch this one multiple times and it just gets better and better. Fantastic, an ultimate Comedy Movie. The part at Hitler's castle just doesn't get better than this. Outrageous.See it, Feel It and Enjoy it like I have done so many times. A winner!!!