L'extraterrestre

I actually wanted to testify about this movie. Why is that ? Because of its total, absolute wackness.

The people responsible for "L'Extra-Terrestre" notoriously emanate from a French comic band called "Les Inconnus". I am a day one fan of "Les Inconnus". Believe me, everything they did a few years ago was wicked.

So, I was more than disappointed by the movie. I was ashamed for Didier Bourdon and Bernard Campan. For real. It's not even funny-because-weak. It's just desperately bad (worst stuff is the romance the rather unsexy Bourdon is involved in !!!).

Please, do not watch "L'Extra-Terrestre".

Unlike to the USA, France didn't make a lot of movies with extra-terrestrials. Here, the extra-terrestrial doesn't look like E.T. or Alien. He's got a nearly human aspect and he doesn't mean to invade the earth as it was the case with "Independence Day". No, he just tries to escape from his kidnappers. Maybe, will he succeed in finding help on Earth.

The movie was made by a member of the French comical trio: "les Inconnus", Didier Bourdon who also plays the lead role. You must admit that his movie is far from being a success. Nevertheless, it constitutes a good moment and introduces a gentle but sometimes crude humor even if the comic effects are a bit easy and sometimes predictable.

The movie turns out to be entertaining thanks to its funny situations in spite of a common and hollow screenplay and some poor special effects. Moreover, if Didier Bourdon makes laugh in his role of clumsy extra-terrestrial, his costume is really laughable.

At the end, a flat and even pointless movie. It's a pity that Bourdon attaches little importance to Bernard Campan. It seems that this last one's got a decorative role because he's badly used during an important part of the movie. However, the two actors used to belong to the same comic band (les Inconnus) and they were very close friends.

Unfunny movie (somehow a spoof of movies like «Terminator») about two aliens stucked on planet Earth after a little mishap with their spacecraft. The script doesn't offers anything more than a few smiles here and there. One could expect a lot more of it from a movie like this. See «Les Visiteurs» for more fun. The only thing a bit funny about «L'Extraterrestre» is the way Zerph is always complaining about Earth being so backward technology wise.

The acting is actually not that bad. Daniel Bourdon (Zerph) is better at it than at directing. Bernard Campan's character (Yeb) is not that funny, but he still delivers a not so bad performance. But Daniel Bourdon, the director, seems to forget that to make a good comedy, you need a little more than a dose of body noises and vulgarity.

Out of 100, I give it 62. That's good for *½ out of ****.

Seen at home, in Toronto, on November 12th, 2002.

NO. There is nothing to save in this everything but funny comedy. And that's a shame considering its casting includes one of the once funniest comedians in France, Les Inconnus. Here, one of them (Didier Bourdon) directs, and that might have been the biggest mistake as he obviously can not act and direct at the same. Then when you realize he is also unable to direct an actor or have any idea of where to put a camera, you end up having one of the most untalented film ever made. Talking about the script, everything is one dimensional, from story to characters, not to mention the awful special effects that ruin the already miserable ending. If there was one thing to save in the chaos, that would be the very few bits where Campan manages to make you smile. But Bourdon's will to alternate comedy and drama with his character just make you forget that as he just is unbearable.