Product Details

• Released on: 2004-09-01
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC, Import
• Original language: French, Spanish
• Subtitled in: English
• Running time: 91 minutes

Review
Those looking for a comedy of significance, one that has something important to say beneath its jokey exterior, will need to avoid La Ch�vre, but those who simply want an uproariously good time should go out of their way to find this delightful French farce. In some ways, La Ch�vre is the kind of film that defies analysis; it's a high-concept film from the word go, the kind of film that either works or doesn't. La Ch�vre works, and works beautifully, with all its pieces meshing together like a well-oiled machine. Certainly, Francis Veber's screenplay deserves a great deal of credit, for it takes the simple basic premise and finds endless variations, and Veber's astute comic direction manages to ensure that those variations build upon each other, rather than wearing each other out. He's enormously helped by his leading men, of course. Pierre Richard's contributions are obvious; he has impeccable comic timing and is a thorough expert at the kind of physical comedy that is demanded in La Ch�vre. He also perfectly captures the character's egotism, keeping it real but also managing to make it endearing. Co-star G�rard Depardieu is his match every step of the way, even though his part by necessity relegates him to frequent straight-man status. Nevertheless, Depardieu provides the perfect counterpoint to Richard; without his reactions and frustration, Richard's antics would not score as heavily. Titanically inconsequential, La Ch�vre is pure fun. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide

On the DVD
Original theatrical trailer
Optional English subtitles
Enhanced for 16x9 TVs

Synopsis
One the best, most serious detectives in France (G�rard Depardieu) is teamed up with a luckless stumble-bum (Pierre Richard) and sent off to Central America to search for the klutzy daughter of a powerful magnate in this fast-paced and funny French farce. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Customer Reviews

Good Silly Fun
As a little girl I remember watching this film with my father (or should I say, watching him lose it over the silly antics of Gerard Depardieu and Pierre Richard). The movie itself has a fun and energetic plot, lots of silly twists and fine acting. I can't say I have watched enough French films to be an expert, but as comedies go, this one is a true gem. To those of you who are a little iffy about investing 26 dollars or so on this DVD, the hilarity involved is similar to Tom Hanks 1985 American remake "Man with one Red Shoe" of Pierre Richard's 1973 "Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe" comedy. Same kind of sillyness and rambunctious coincidences, etc. It's worth it! :-)

A riotous French comedy
Give Francis Veber a whole lot of credit. He's able to exploit the comic talents, latent or otherwise, of Gerard Depardieu as the straight man to Pierre Richard's fall guy (literally--Richard's character takes more pratfalls than one of our late presidents--the impeached kind--in a room full of old banana peels). As the Jonah to end all Jonahs, Richard teams up with Depardieu to find the daughter of French tycoon, kidnapped in Mexico. And she herself is subject to all kinds of misfortunes.

Knowing this, the tycoon's head company psychologist theorizes that it takes a Jonah to find one, so suggests to his boss that Richard go to Mexico--accompanied by Depardieu's private investigator--to find the girl.

Hilarity ensues. There are so many funny bits in here that it's hard to fault this comedy for any reason. Those of you not fond of the Marx Brothers and other zingy slapstick, steer clear. Those others who find wacko comedy refreshing and downright fun (like I do), dig in. This is right up your alley.

Richard is perfect and Depardieu is equally great as his sometime patsy. Or should I say pratsy? Zingy, dingy, and the perfect antidote to the recession blues.