Die Rückkehr des Helden

It's a nice amalgam of influences: the returned-from-the-dead officer is taken from Le colonel Chabert, the two sisters with contrasting personalities from Sense and Sensibility, and the domestic setup from any French historical film. Jean Dujardin is splendid as the fraudulent hero, Melanie Laurent is very adept as the conniving older sister Elisabeth, and Noemie Merlant is the fiery younger sister who first falls for Dujardin. I admit I was led to watch by Merlant's performance in Portrait of a Woman On Fire, an amazing turn.

Laurent Tirard is a capable director of comedy; he'd already done Moliere with Romain Duris, and the very funny Mensonges et trahisons et plus si affinites... I look forward to his next film.

"Return of the Hero" is a Comedy movie in which we are in 1809, France where Captain Neuville is called to the front exactly after he asks her fiance to marry him. While time passes and Captain Neuville does not send any letters to his bride, her sister starts to write letters on his behalf to cheer her sister up. Everything changes when Captain Neuville reappears after returning from the war.

I liked this movie because I found it very funny and I believe that it had many hilarious scenes. The plot was not the best but worked just fine for this movie and the cast. I have to admit that the interpretations of Jean Dujardin's who played as Capitaine Charles-Grégoire Neuville and Mélanie Laurent's who played as Elisabeth Beaugrand were simply exceptional. The direction which was made by Laurent Tirard had some very interesting and funny moments such as when Jean Dujardin is returning from the war very dirty and accidentally spits on a passing baby. One thing that I did not like was the ending because I think that it was an unnecessary exaggeration and some scenes which were boring.

Finally, I have to say that "Return of the Hero" is an average movie with a few good moments and elements. I am sure that you will have a lot of fun either watching it alone or not and that's the main reason why I recommend it to everyone.

For acting, twists, atmosphere, tension, dialogue and, not last, for opportunity for Jean Dujardin to use his character like a piece of clay , Le retour du heros is pure charming.

Indeed, the heart of film is the splendid performance of Melanie Laurent and the inspired use of beginning of french XIX century for a chain of letters, lies, eccentric stories and a pragmatic business around a not existent diamonds mine.

The story of a clever crook and naive victims, about some drops of Bovarism and a society finding the cure for boredom. And , sure, about a great hero serving, in impecable manner, his interests.

Really light nice French romantic comedy with good acting. Nice evening for with your couple is guaranteed.

Hilarious, stylish, French, quirky, it's a riot of laughs. Our hero is a total slimeball, but very likeable. A gem of a movie.