Hibernatus

Louis de Funès was one of the funniest French comic actors and none of those on the scene today can even compare with him. Many of his films made in the 1960's and 70's are evergreens of French comedy and remain popular even today. Hibernatus is one of the best, together with Rabbi Jacob, La Grande Vadrouille and Le Corniaud (The Sucker). The script lively, the film only 78 mins long and Claude Gensac as his long standing "ma biche !" is magnificent. The film is basically about De Funes's wife's grandfather who is found frozen in the ice and comes back to life with his family in 1969 ! All surroundings are made to look oldy-worldy so that he may think he is still in 1905. All this gives rise to some comic situations where De Funès has to disguise himself first as the grandfather's father, and then as suitor to his mother. Without going any more into the detail of the plot one can say that it is highly amusing and entertaining. It has recently been issued on DVD in France with very good picture quality and French Subtitles, together with several other famous de Funès comedies, such as La Folie des Grandeurs, Oscar, L'Homme Orchestre ..............

De Funes movies have filled my childhood and "Hibernatus" didn't leave me a good memory. At the time, I couldn't stand the doctor (Londsale) and the "hibernatus". In addition, i felt stuck in the big old furnished mansion.

Today, I find it rather enjoyable. The "hibernatus" really appears during the second half of the movie and the interview of the actor 30 years later available on the bonus helps soften his character. Moreover, De Funes steals the show as always and has the genius to turn "bad" guys into memorable characters.

As I underlined in other reviews, a truly good comedy surprises you at each viewing because you can't remember all the funny moments. This is also the case here.

In comparison with today movies, its short length (80 min) is appreciable because it's fast paced and has no time out.

This is a neat little comedy about a man who has survived in a frozen state for more than half a century. When he wakes up (not having aged at all) all his surroundings have been adapted to make him believe he is still living in his own time. Of course, this charade cannot be maintained for very long.

This is a pleasant little comedy, giving people a nice excuse to wear colourful old-fashioned clothes, without necessarily behaving the way the clothes and the decor would indicate. The film has its weaknesses, in particular it is difficult to see why the scientists go through all the trouble. Worse, Olivier de Funes (who plays it straight) lacks the required charisma to carry the film, and we don't get quite enough action from his famous father.

This was neither the first nor the last film to ever explore the idea of a person out of time and the follies that ensue, but it might well be the silliest. Jean Bernard-Luc and Jacques Vilfrid go to great lengths in their screenplay to shape the most ridiculous farce that they could, from the introduction of high-strung businessman Hubert and those around him, to the thawing of the ice man and efforts to claim him, and amazingly becoming more outrageous still in the second half as preposterous accommodations go awry. The characters, dialogue, scene writing, and narrative at large are all specifically bent toward feverish energy and blustery nonsense, and from top to bottom we're treated to substantial detail to flesh out these elements. I'm personally of the mind that 'Hibernatus' doesn't make a big impression at first, possibly even feeling a tad forced, but it's well done all the while - and the second half is so strong that it unquestionably makes up for earlier relative weakness, and then some. Ultimately this is a classic that's very much worth the wait for it to build strength, equally smart and funny and well worth seeking out.

Filmmaker Édouard Molinaro follows Bernard-Luc and Vilfrid's guiding ethos to the letter with direction that maintains the unfettered zip throughout all of these eighty-two minutes. Every scene buzzes with thrumming electricity, and I can only imagine that every shooting day was fun at least as much as it was work. Of course, Molinaro's task is made much easier by a terrific ensemble, as every actor fully leans into the zestful tenor of the project. Louis de Funès has the most star power, and proves why with a performance that especially makes use of his animated personality and comportment, but his co-stars handily keep up. At one point or another Claude Gensac, Bernard Alane, Michel Lonsdale, Pascal Mazzotti, Martine Kelly, Paul Préboist, and everyone else all have a moment to shine, and the high spirits they bring to the picture are a major component of its success.

It also can't be overstated how fantastic this looks in every other capacity. These are some gorgeous sets that were constructed for this, most of them in the latter half, and I'd love to pour over every inch of the de Tartas home. Likewise, the costume design is plainly outstanding; between these two facets alone it sure seems like the producers "spared no expense," as the saying goes. The hair and makeup is no less excellent, any stunts and effects that are employed come off swell, and Monique Isnardon's snappy editing lends in its own way to the vitality of the proceedings. The themes of composer extraordinaire Georges Delerue mostly stick to the background, but mirror the light, playful mood at all times, and Raymond Pierre Lemoigne's cinematography is splendidly sharp. Granted, all these aspects pale in comparison to the writing, and in turn the direction and acting, but suffice to say that everything comes together wonderfully well to make 'Hibernatus' the superbly entertaining delight that it is. I don't know if I'd go so far as to say it's a total must-see, but if you do have the opportunity to watch, there's definitely no going wrong with this. Appropriate for all ages and recommended for all comers, this is a joyful romp that's well worth checking out!

Arctic expedition finds the frozen body of Paul Fournier in Greenland. He stayed in eternal cold for sixty five years and was brought to life in 1970. He is taken care by the family of his descendants and he believes that it is still 1905 and he had a riding accident after which he had developed some memory problems. By his doctor's request, to spare him the shock of waking up, the house he stays in and the streets surrounded it are redecorated to look like in the beginning of the 20th century. He does not know that the woman he believes his mother is his granddaughter and her polite but slightly hyper fiancée (De Funes) has been her husband for over twenty years. The movie belongs to Luis De Funes as all his comedies do. I'd like to name just a few - the trilogy of Fantômas movies where De Funes was energetic, bubbling with the mad ideas, clumsy and hilarious Commissar Juve; "La Grande vadrouille" (1966) where he shared the screen with another French legend, Bourvil, and "Oscar" (1967) which he simply stole with his performance. During his long career De Funes learned how to make every viewer in the audience laugh – not just laugh but almost die from laughing. While watching "Hibernatus" again after many years, I almost fall from the couch – my husband and our friends had more fun watching me than the movie.