The rich Philippe’s life changes post a paragliding experience gone wrong. He takes to the wheel cheer for life. So what he wants next is a caretaker. Enter Driss, who not just takes good care of Philippe, but also takes his friendship with Philippe to a whole new level.
Movie Review: Now how many of us out there can make the best of the very little (literally) that we have? How many of us can laugh at our own shortcomings – both physical and emotional? Guess not many. After all, no one is born a hero; you become heroic only when you decide to be one. Celebrating this spirit of never-say-never is The Intouchables – a story of the white aristocrat, Philippe (Francois Cluzet) who hires the black Driss ( Omar Sy) only later to realise life is all about living in the moment… a true story based on the memoir named You Changed My life by Abdel Sellou.
For the record, The Intouchables became the second most successful French film of all time, breaking all box office records outside the English circuit. And it’s not just the plot that helped the movie do this. It’s also the perfect blend of the drama (all serious and emotional stuff bringing out the helplessness of a then-adventure-freak-now-differently-abled man) and comedy (smart dialogues coupled with funny moments… at time irreverent) that works big time. There are even some Obama-Bush-Kennedy jokes in there.
Next are the performances. While Francois Cluzet as Philippe brilliantly metamorphoses into the what-the-heck-I-can-do-it persona from the no-woman-will-love-me-ever, Omar Sy’s Driss gives you that extra dose of humour – situational, through expressions and dialogues. So much so you can’t think of anyone more deserving for the Cesar Award for Best Actor this actor lays claims to. Sample this: His references at a job interview are Kool Gang, earth, wind and fire. He has a problem with fixed timings at work and loves to doze off when on duty. He finds all that classy jazz music ‘Tom and Jerry’ stuff. In fact, the real winner here, in the movie, is actually Driss. Not because he does not throw in the towel after a week – understandably Philippe is a difficult man to please. Or for that matter, not even because he tips Philippe on the erogenous zone.
While he is making Philippe like his own self- all happy and lively, he is seen adapting to all that aristocratic way of life. He no longer thinks red splash on white is a piece of trash one should never buy; he no longer wants money for every little gesture he does. But before that here is Driss… who finds molten cake all squashy and raw…. who mistakes foot cream as hair shampoo wondering where all that lather is….
A feel-good dramedy… against the sparkling Paris by night. A feel-good real life story of two buddies who still continue to live happily ever after even today.
