For a long time now, Laurent Baudouin has been committing small-scale hold-ups on local banks. He shares the proceeds with his devoted wife, who does not hesitate to point out that she needs more money in order to counteract the rising cost of living. While trying to commit yet another hold-up, Baudouin runs into two young gangsters who are targeting the same bank...
"La grande embrouille" is a French comedy featuring an ageing Jean Lefebvre, a veteran actor with many credits to his name. Here he plays the role of an experienced bank-robber, grown wise and grey in his profession, who suddenly finds himself taken hostage by two rank amateurs. Although Lefebvre is pretty funny as the unflappable voice of reason, even he can't save the movie from mediocrity.
The two young gangsters seem to have no recognizable personalities apart from being a) rash, b) bumbling and c) malleable, which is rather a pity since the viewer spends a lot of time in their presence. By the same token these characters don't seem to have an agenda outside of a desire to get rich the quick way. More imaginative writing might have turned the men into the political champions of some bizarre cause, such as the independence of Limoges or the interdiction of maths lessons in schools. The movie's ending isn't all that credible either, especially where the deal with the female reporter is concerned.
Still, the "money to burn" find deserves at least some stars. A total of five stars seems about right for a movie that's sure to flee from your memory in a few weeks.
"La grande embrouille" is a French comedy featuring an ageing Jean Lefebvre, a veteran actor with many credits to his name. Here he plays the role of an experienced bank-robber, grown wise and grey in his profession, who suddenly finds himself taken hostage by two rank amateurs. Although Lefebvre is pretty funny as the unflappable voice of reason, even he can't save the movie from mediocrity.
The two young gangsters seem to have no recognizable personalities apart from being a) rash, b) bumbling and c) malleable, which is rather a pity since the viewer spends a lot of time in their presence. By the same token these characters don't seem to have an agenda outside of a desire to get rich the quick way. More imaginative writing might have turned the men into the political champions of some bizarre cause, such as the independence of Limoges or the interdiction of maths lessons in schools. The movie's ending isn't all that credible either, especially where the deal with the female reporter is concerned.
Still, the "money to burn" find deserves at least some stars. A total of five stars seems about right for a movie that's sure to flee from your memory in a few weeks.