Est-ce bien raisonnable?
1981 Comedy / Romance / Thriller   
 
  • Director: Georges Lautner
  • Script: Michel Audiard, Jean-Marie Poiré
  • Photo: Henri Decaë
  • Music: Philippe Sarde
  • Cast: Miou-Miou (Julie Boucher), Gérard Lanvin (Gérard Louvier), Michel Galabru (Emile Dugaineau, L'huissier), Renée Saint-Cyr (La veuve Bertillon), Henri Guybet (Daniel), Jean-Pierre Darroussin (Henri), Eva Harling (Eva), David Gabison (Le juge Bricard), Bernard Malaterre (Fernand), Franck-Olivier Bonnet (Le conducteur râleur), Philippe Castelli (L'appariteur), André Riquier (Le malfrat), Max Montavon (Le greffier), Julien Guiomar (Raymond Volfoni) Dominique Lavanant (La restauratrice)
  • Country: France
  • Language: French
  • Runtime: 109 min
  • Aka: Is This Really Reasonable?
 
 
 
Summary
After his arrest, small-time crook Gérard Louvier escapes from police custody by stealing the clothes – and identity – of a high-profile judge.  A journalist, Julie Boucher, mistakes Louvier for the judge she intended to ask to investigate the suspicious death of a man.  Realising that Julie is offering him a ticket to freedom, Louvier willingly accompanies her to her home in Nice.  There, Julie’s domestic life – which includes a cheating boyfriend and an ex-lover who won’t go away – becomes more complicated when she discovers she is attracted to Louvier.  Then she discovers his real identity…

Review
Compared with some of Georges Lautner’s better known films, Est-ce bien raisonnable? must rate as a pretty minor work, lacking the biting wit, energy and sense of fun of Lautner’s earlier achievements.  However, some spirited performances from a talented cast just about make this an attractive and mildly entertaining film.  Miou-Miou and Gérard Lanvin work together surprisingly well, both bringing a touch of humanity into a pretty ordinary storyline whilst subtly underplaying the comedy to great effect.   The slightly soporific nature of the film’s first half is mercifully relieved by some familiar Lautner/Audiard comedy in the latter part of the film – and things improve greatly when Michel Galabru enters the frame, assisted by some cracking mother in-law-jokes.

© James Travers 2005


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