Le Retour du Héros

I haven't seen more original movie in a long time! it seems to me that no one can beat French cinematography when it comes to that. Most of their movies I have seen are quaint but very entertaining and this one is not an exception.

This is a parody set in the early 19th century with Jean Dujardin (Oscar winner) playing ignominious war deserter who finds himself very comfortable when surrounded with casual acquaintances who believe he is actually a war hero. And the reason why they believe that is rather peculiar and has to be kept a secret at all cost.

This is most I can tell you without ruining your experience. If you're in for a good laugh, entertaining narrative and pretty solid acting check it out with some friends.

Fresh, funny, entertaining, with a couple of twists you wouldn't expect. And the acting is good.

LE RETOUR DU HÉROS turned out far better than I had expected. Director Laurent Tirard is an unknown to me, but he does a competent job and the film generally flows, punctuated by some exceedingly funny moments, and others which reflect keen observation of human nature.

In addition, despite its palaces and smartly dressed people, the action and dialogue are firmly 21st Century. One of the highlights is the returning hero, played by Jean Dujardin, looking dirty and fallen from grace, accidentally spits on a passing baby. Dujardin, an Oscar winner with THE ARTIST, is in good form but it is Mélanie Laurent who steals the show with her intelligent eyes, beautiful face, and impeccably timed delivery, at times delightfully dry, at others quite ebullient.

The exaggerated accounts of Dujardin's "bravery," and the way Laurent lifts or deflates them, according to her interests, are a real pleasure to watch.

I think the film should have ended with the marriage, the last 5-10 mins are the weakest, but by then I felt I had had my money's worth. 8/10

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

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.