Nichts zu verschenken

For me this is the like of such comedies as Radin! which seem light-hearted, silly, too hyperbolized and over the top on the surface that turn out to be something more than meets the eye. Like with most comedies it takes a problem, overly dramatizes it in favor of laughs (which are almost non-existent here), spices it up with a bit of family drama, love story, mistaken identity issues and we have it, almost word-for-word, a blueprint for an average comedy movie to waste your saturday night on. But is it really that bad to be so formulaic? I think not. Radin! has plenty to give, from the thought about where do our taxes go to the simple truth of not judging a book by its cover; it also provides us with a good portion of drama (although also a bit formulaic in terms of performance) and unwillingly squeezes the tears out of the eyes - what you never expect from a comedy - which totally gives this movie more credit and a couple of extra points to my final rating. Overall this is a no time-waster, there is a laugh and a smirk here and there (mostly in one scene) with something to think about afterwards but despite that it's just all too safe, overly exaggerated and too unfunny to be a comedy.

Ok, French movies are 90% boring and plotless. This one is also stupid. In my reviews I assigned high scores to many films with Daniel Auteil or others like comedies, where French are masters. But this one not. I would have rated 0 or max 1. I assigned a 2 only for a quick concert they played at very courageous speed. More or less the unique 30-40 seconds worth to watch. The rest is pathetic.

In the womb, Baby Dany hears his mum berate his spend thrift dad and grows to be a congenital tight wad living in a Jacques Tati Cul de sac, (where the neighbours hate him) and playing violin for an orchestra with fetching cellist Arné. This is disrupted by the arrival of daughter (cut price condom) Schmidt.

Clever routines - the block meeting in Dany's flat where he can't escape, playing The Four Seasons against the clock or using his bank manager as a therapist - are expertly delivered under the supervision of "Polar" specialist Cavayé.

Totally undemanding entertainment is a welcome break from the more purposeful sub-titled offerings.

Radin! Starts with a strong comedic setup: a man so pathologically stingy that his entire life revolves around saving money at all costs. It's a premise ripe for satire, and Dany Boon, known for his success in French comedies like Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis, initially brings the expected energy to the role.

However, after a few solid jokes in the opening act, the film quickly loses steam. The humor becomes repetitive, the situations predictable, and the character development feels shallow. Attempts at injecting sentimentality later in the story come off as forced and overly simplistic.

The supporting cast doesn't have much room to shine, and the pacing is uneven, making the second half feel longer than it should. While it's not offensively bad, Radin! Never lives up to the full potential of its comedic setup.

Positive: _Dany Boon delivers a decent central performance _The premise is fun and has potential _A few solid comedic moments

Negative: _Predictable plot and flat pacing _Humor quickly becomes repetitive _Emotional beats feel superficial and unearned.

Danny Boon is never really cheap - his character here on the other hand: yes that is one cheap ... Dude. Now if you are a fan of his, I don't have to convince you. You know what he is capable of. If you don't know him, I would suggest you watch the trailer to see if he hits the humor spot with your taste. Because it always is something different for viewers.

I can argue that most things work, especially because his character has a lot to learn. And while he may seem despicable at first (though some may sympathize with him more I reckon), we still the pain he is going through. Yes that pain is somewhat superficial, but that doesn't mean our main character isn't hurt. Yes it is also predictable, but it is also quite fun to watch. It is heightened to a degree you may wonder if real people would act the same way sometimes ... but that would take the fun out of it. It is slightly based in reality of course, but has not put roots down ... just a comedy then, but a quite good/decent one