Le Roi des bricoleurs (1977)
Directed by Jean-Pierre Mocky

Film Review

Whilst Le Roi des bricoleurs is almost certainly Jean-Pierre Mocky's worst film its extremely caricatured take on a topical subject of its day, politicians' involvement in property speculation, is not entirely without merit.  Mocky's blazing contempt for hypocrisy in any stratum of French society has never been so apparent but the director's failure to contain his bile results in a comedy with is, in every sense of the word, over-egged.  Most, if not all, of the cast appear ignorant of the fact they are in a film and look as if they are enjoying a private joke, so throughout much of the film the spectator is excluded and ennui quickly sets in.  Mocky was himself no great fan of the film and with only a horrendously over-the-top Michel Serrault to carry it it fails dismally, both as a piece of satire and as a popular entertainment.

Film Synopsis

Businessman Goumic is over the moon when he learns that he, his wife and his brother-in-law, Malju, have inherited a grand old house in a popular spa town.  Conveniently situated, the house is likely to fetch a good price and Goumic soon has a willing purchaser in a minister looking for a town house befitting his status.  The house, unfortunately, is not in the best state of repair, so before he can part with it Goumic must undertake some significant renovation work.  Neither Goumic nor his brother-in-law are equipped to do the work themselves so they decide to employ a building company owned by the town's mayor, Monsieur Bordin.

Little does Goumic know that Bordin intends buying the house himself, at a fraction of its true market value.  This he achieves by delaying the building work to the extent that Goumic and Malju finally lose their patience and decide to hire their own decorators.  This causes even more mishaps, as the decorators turn out to be completely incompetent.  When Malju finally manages to find someone who is able to do the job the major denounces them for employing black market labour.  By exercising cunning, Goumic and Malju manage to complete both the renovations and the sale with the minister.  Unaware that the house has now changed hands, Bourdin demolishes part of the building and realises his mistake too late.  It is Goumic and Malju who have the last laugh...