Les bronzés font du ski

This second movie of the team from the Splendid (a french theater) is as interesting as their first "Les Bronzes". Many jokes and many hilarious shots. The style of the movie is pretty the same than the first but is not a bad imitation. You could see the two movies one after the others (this is an advice) and appreciate them at their true worth.

The fame of these movies is so great that in France, it is very usual to meet people who have seen them more than ten times. The success of the the actors is so good that they have made many movies after these ones and many of them were very good. (For example: "le pere noel est une ordure")

If aliens would come to earth and want to understand our frontiers and nationalities, i would recommend our french comedies to learn from them. So American comedies are totally different from ours, and while European ones would be similar, my fellows have however clear and distinct attributes: if you look for fashioned and modern french, you will find only Parisians! Outside Paris, french live as in Middle- ages! French are wild beats as we just like to eat, drink and have sex... We are not very polite or clean and we are lucky to live in an however beautiful country with fantastic landscapes! So with that on mind, you can enjoy this funny movie! I never went to winter vacations but this movie feels like it! As it happens on the late 70s, you can even discover France at its best as everything was better than now: the cars, the fashion, the attitudes. It's maybe the first time i watched it entirely because as a child, we weren't allowed TV except on Tuesdays and Saturdays. So this movie belongs to the few french cult movies as we watch it over and over. All generations can share some lines or situations as they are so true that they will make us laugh forever!

This one is even better than the first "Les Bronzés". The director has traded the Club Med for the French Alps. But the cast, luckily, is the same. There is some hilarious scenes, especially in the second half. One example: the food and drinks at the peasants' house in the mountain. Far from an intellectual movie, it's one that jokes about some French ways of doing thing or seeing life. Not one of Leconte's best, but still good. One thing's for sure though, the soundtrack is passé! Great way to spend a Sunday night at home.

Seen at home, in Toronto, on February 26th, 2006.

76/100 (**½)

Follow-up to smash hit "Les Bronzés" with virtually the same cast and director. This time of course the setting is not a tropic Club Med place but a winter-sports resort in the French Alps.

Except for a rather annoying 'seventies' disco-style soundtrack, movie hasn't dated at all. Among the many hilarious highlights there is the local "wine" tasting scene and the encounter in a remote cabin with some horny Italians.

Almost everyone involved went on to become a major star in French cinema, as Christian Clavier ("Les Visiteurs" and recently Napoleon Bonaparte in a prestigious TV-series) and Gerard Jugnot (lead in the 2005 Oscarnominated "Les Choristes"). But also director Patrice Leconte became one of France's most respected directors (Le mari de la Coiffeusse,Ridicule,"Les Grands Ducs", etc...).

If you like this try also the crazy "Le Péré Noel est une Ordure", made a few years later and again with virtually the same cast.

Not much more to say, watch this movie that is a lot more subtle than you could imagine (not just the ordinary farce), and if you want to be accepted easily in France, learn 2 or 3 of the punchlines, you can be sure you'll make friends!!! Everyone knows them here!!!!