Balduin, der Sonntagsfahrer

Consider this: Three people in a car, driving of a cliff that goes a thousand feet

into the ocean. Halfway down the precipice there is a pine. That car

lands in this tree - mid ways between the world and ocean. No

one has seen the accident. No one know they are there. How can they survive? This is a sit-com of incredible humorous value.

Louis de Funes. Geraldine Chaplin. and Olivier de Funes. a car. an accident. and a lot of adventures. a film who remains great for the gift to be almost perfect. politic and business system, mass media and marriage, religion and public image, youth and exotic refuge each is discovered by viewer in brutal light. a film about honesty. and a spectacular comedy. Perched on a Tree is one of film who reminds more than present. entertainment of high class, it is, in essence, painful honest reflection about society and its different masks. and , more important, one of Louis de Funes's comedy, with the same smart use of clichés and the great man who becomes detail for the others. and, sure, the wise end, who is memorable. a film who remains inspired option for understand contemporary events in the right light.

Louis de Funès is by far the best French comedian, one every French or Belgian would be able to name a handful of his movies, so rewatching one of his movies brings back memories from my youth, when back in the days you didn't have much choice. You would watch what was on the telly on the few channels you had, a de Funès movie was always popular. Sur Un Arbre Perché isn't one of the better ones, mostly because of the rather annoying Géraldine Chaplin, daughter of the famous Charlie, and Olivier de Funès, son of Louis, who mostly plays in his father's movies and who never had the same charisma or acting talent as his father. This movie is worth a watch if you're a fan of Louis, otherwise there are much better ones like La Grande Vadrouille for instance.

'Sur un arbre perche' is the original title of a De Funes film and when saying De Funes, one thinks comedy relying basically on grimaces, silly noises etc... Well, this isn't quite the case here.... Louis de Funes does what he does best-the above mentioned- but the film comes as a surprise in which that it is more than a comedy- the end proves it ! It's a satire at all that makes today's society's entertainment : church, family values, onerous business, TV reality shows, politicians, public services like police, fire fighters, first aid; it's all there in the spotlight and none is given a sweet pat on the head- far from it ! The film being shot in the early 70's, the satire addressing all the mentioned areas is so much more compelling. The silly accident which leads to three strangers being literally perched on a 'pin parapluie' in a car above the sea for a week is still a good starting point for some gentle humour 'De Funes style', but when the protagonists are finally discovered there's a load of not so humorous, yet immensely funny reactions from all the concerned authorities or people , none of them actually doing much to rescue our heroes. And when they are finally rescued... well... A film to watch at least for one reason: it is not what you might expect.

Imagine George Clooney and Jim Carrey alone in the car between sky and sea with Cathrin Zitta on the backseat doing with her ... sex? No ... not sex, COMEDY! You can't? This is simply because Jim Carrey cannot even compare with the mighty comic genius of the great De Funes. Please don't even think to remake (in other words, steal) his genial films EVER! Please, Hollywood. PLEASE, do your usual blockbusters about slapstick comedy situations involving petting, flirting, masturbating, copulating, ejaculating and please PLEASE leave monsters in comedy like monsieur De Funes rest in peace. What more is to be said. You cannot understand this movie unless you were born European. Sure it will be boring to the Americans excluding few brief nudity scenes with young Geraldine Chaplin wearing really funny trousers.