Les cracks

A pleasant comedy : silly, frothy and light-hearted. The characters tend to be caricatures rather than fully-rounded individuals and the story is unsubtle, but who cares, much shall be forgiven this movie because it doesn't take itself seriously. The actors are in fine mettle and the tongue-in-cheek nostalgia, complete with engagingly foolish costumes, adds considerably to the fun.

"Les cracks" contains more than a few scenes of cycling-related dirty pool. If you're an American and if you're still feeling guilty and angry about Lance 'Look at me, mama, now I'm going to cheat WITHOUT hands' Armstrong, rest assured that he wasn't an innovator who desecrated a pristine sport. Cheating and unsportive behaviour have been dogging the great cycle races, such as the Tour de France, since day one. Probably they will continue to do so until Judgment Day...

Long before "Smokey and the bandit" (God bless...) and "The Cannonball run" there was "Les cracks". We follow Bourvil who just made a revolutionary bicycle that he wants to get used in Paris-San Remo, the first big cycletour of the century (it's 1901) but due to many circumstances Bourvil ends up being bankrupt and a very stupid (but clever) debtclaimer wants everything Bourvil has, including the bicycle... What we then see is during the whole movie the chase after Bourvil. Let's make it right from the start, we saw the great French comedian in much better movies and the hommage to slapstick from director Alex Joffe can work on your nerves as this is like some copy from a Buster Keatonmovie in colours, but as it often go with French movies, you tend to laugh.

Bourvil has invented a revolutionary bicycle and tries his luck in the Paris-San Remo ,a cycles race circa 1900.Abetted by his wife (monique Tarbès, with her shrill voice) ,but pursued by a creditor (Robert Hirsh) who wants his money back,he will experience lots of events before the finish.A good use of the wide screen and good colors are assets.A nod to Lamartine gives an intellectual touch: a girl (Jocelyne) is dressed up as a boy and they call her "Jocelyn" like in the writer's poem.One of the cyclists will spend the whole race floating on a river,which gives a surrealistic touch too.

Pleasant movie, with a very nice Bourvil.