Viens chez moi, j'habite chez une copine (1981)
Directed by Patrice Leconte

Film Review

Long before he came to be considered a respectable cineaste (a worthy child of the Nouvelle Vague), wowing the critics with such seductively stylish works as Le Mari de la coiffeuse (1990) and L'Homme du train (2002), Patrice Leconte was content to be a willing servant of mainstream cinema.  After a shaky debut he soon found his feet and notched up a succession of populist hits, many featuring members of the enormously popular comedy troupe Équipe du Splendid - most notably Les Bronzés (1978).  Viens chez moi, j'habite chez une copine was another of his early successes, a boisterous comedy in the 'men behaving badly' vein which attracted an audience of 2.8 million.

Cast in the leads are Michel Blanc and Bernard Giraudeau, a chalk-and-cheese pairing that works astonishingly well (Blanc is a natural comedian, Giraudeau bettered suited for straight drama).  Leconte gets the best out his two stars, who form the most entertaining comedy duo, employing a device that had been exploited by many French film comedies of the time - none more successfully than L'Emmerdeur (1973) and La Chèvre (1981).  Here, the dark clown Giraudeau is the hapless straight man to white clown Blanc's mischief-making funster, and the laughs never stop coming as the former allows his buddy to drag him from one catastrophe to another in quick succession.

Leblanc's unflagging screenplay contains scripted and visual gags aplenty, allowing Leconte ample opportunity for demonstrating his penchant for light comedy.  The highpoint has to be the night visit to Guy's loft apartment from Hell. The supporting cast includes two other members of the Splendid ensemble - Anémone and Marie-Anne Chazel, who are both honoured with a scene-stealing moment or two.  Viens chez moi, j'habite chez une copine may not be Patrice Leconte's most sophisticated or memorable film, but it is tirelessly entertaining, and a step up from his earlier Bronzé offerings.

Film Synopsis

Guy is a young man who likes to have a good time, but unfortunately the world seems determined to thwart him in this ambition.  His attempts to fleece unsuspecting clients at the petrol station where works are soon discovered by his boss and he promptly loses both his job and his home.  With no one left to turn to, Guy throws himself at the mercy of his friend Daniel, who feels honour-bound to let him move into his apartment, which he shares with his girlfriend Françoise.

As he sets about trying to find gainful employment, Guy keeps up his womanising exploits and stretches his hosts' patience to the limit by inviting a seemingly endless string of nubile young women back to the apartment.  Desperation finally drives Guy to ask his friend to get him a job with the removals company he works for.  For once Guy is favoured by the Fates and he and Daniel are soon working together, a happy team of removal men.  It isn't long, however, before Guy's knack of getting himself into trouble catches up with them both...