Un jour mon père viendra (2012)
Directed by Martin Valente

Film Review

Un jour mon père viendra, director Martin Valente's third feature after Les Amateurs (2003) and Fragile(s) (2007), is a modest lowbrow comedy that is not without charm but is let down by a lack of ambition and imagination in both its writing and direction.  By bringing together Gérard Jugnot and François Berléand, Valente is resorting to a tried and tested formula, that of the mismatched comedy duo exemplified by Louis de Funès and Bourvil in La Grande vadrouille (1966), but the dearth of character depth and anything resembling a decent stream of jokes prevents the partnership from being a success.  The rich man-poor man scenario has been too assiduously mined in recent years to hold much interest value. Olivia Ruiz, an established pop musician, shows promise in her screen debut, although she too is visibly struggling with the mediocre material that has been foisted on her.  Whilst the plot has some mileage, the lacklustre writing and direction denude the film of any sparkle, and after a while the repetitive gags and forced  jollity become more than a little tedious.

Film Synopsis

Chloé finally has everything she could want to be happy.  She is soon to marry the man of her dreams, a former tennis champion who is now a successful businessman.  The only thing she lacks is the ideal father to lead her to the altar on her wedding day.  Who is it going to be - Bernard, a glacially cold aristocrat, or Gus, a good-natured swindler?