Three out of
Five stars
Running time:
94 mins
Superbly written French comedy with strong characters, some good jokes and a few subtle points to make about the importance of friendship in today's fast paced society.
What's it all about?
Daniel Auteuil plays Francois Coste, a Parisian antiques dealer who's too caught up in the fast paced world of buyers and sellers to notice that all his so-called friends are either colleagues or clients. When his business partner Catherine (Julie Gayet) points this out to him, he bets her that he will be able to produce his true best friend by the end of the month.
Anxious to win the bet, Francois persuades motor-mouthed, trivia-spouting cab driver Bruno Bouley (Dany Boon) to pose as his best friend, with predictably hilarious results. However, Francois' deception leads to unexpected benefits, with his new-found people skills enabling him to rebuild his relationship with his daughter (Julie Durand).
The Good
Daniel Auteuil is a terrifically watchable actor and he's on fine form here, as Francois finds himself first frustrated and then gradually charmed by Bruno. Dany Boon proves a fine comic sidekick (he has impeccable timing) and his perpetual puppy dog demeanour is extremely amusing. You genuinely get the feeling that if Francois threw a stick, Bruno would fetch it.
In addition, there's strong support from Jacques Mathou and Marie Pillet (as Bruno's scene-stealing parents) and from Julie Gayet, even if her character is a little underwritten.
The Great
The script is excellent, bouncily incorporating farce, witty dialogue and astute observations about the importance of friendship in today's fast paced society. It's also vaguely reminiscent of the brilliant Le Diner de Cons.
Director Patrice Leconte keeps a firm hand on the material, maintaining a breezy comic tone and never allowing the film to nose dive into sickly sentimentality, something the inevitable American remake will no doubt attempt to correct.
Worth seeing?
My Best Friend is a likeable, well written comedy with several good gags and superb comic performances from its two leads. Worth seeing.