Le Tatoué

A hightlight of the French comedy, only Bourvil or Fernandel were missing. I am not a great comedy lover but those French movies from the sixties and seventies were purely "gorgeous", especially with the likes of De Funès and Jean Gabin, who were outstanding. Everything is great, fun, never boring. This is a magical atmosphere, that only the new generations could be bored with. Once more, Jean Gabin gives a very peculiar performance, as he did with LA BARON DE L'ECLUSE, ARCHIMEDE LE CLOCHARD, LE JARDINIER D'ARGENTEUIL...So, if you are a Jean Gabin's fan, don't miss this one. And I don't even speak of Louis De Funès.

Le tatoué starts of with a lot of funny details and scenes but after about half an hour the pace drops. Lots of banter and outright crazy nonsense. Racist at times (it is hard to imagine this was considered bon ton in 1968), funny when De Funès is at his usual best. And the weird sensation at one moment when we clearly hear the soundtrack from the Pink Panther movies in the soundtrack. And the ending goes nowhere at all. It is difficult to imagine that 60s movie public was okay with this sort of plot less craziness that you expect 30 years earlier with Laurel and Hardy. A nice film for LdF fans, but when you are not: don't bother with it.

The story is a fairly absurd little farce that doesn't really go anywhere, but it's possible to enjoy this as just a goofy buddy comedy with some good, irreverent slapstick. Given the lack of subtitles on the copy I watched, you might want to brush up your French first; the dialogue is fast and idiomatic. I missed a good deal of it.

I do like both Gabin and Funès. Both together are pretty much a waste of time. Firstly, the plot is completely absurd, up to idiocy, at least with the two Americans. It still could be funny, would it not be the meet-up of two larger-than-life characters. They both work hard on keeping the other down. Just watched Funès 'Oscar' last night and was laughing with tears. The Tattoo has a bunch of funny scenes, but isn't funny throughout.

Just do something more worthwhile with your time.

The tattoo is a lesser-known gem in Louis de Funès' filmography, and it's a pleasant surprise for anyone looking to explore more of his work. The film stars de Funès alongside Jean Gabin, and the chemistry between the two is fantastic. Gabin plays an old soldier with a rare tattoo that becomes the focus of a humorous and unpredictable story.

The dynamic between de Funès' high-energy antics and Gabin's gruff, no-nonsense demeanor creates a perfect comedic contrast that keeps the audience engaged. The film is filled with clever dialogue, funny situations, and a story that is both unique and entertaining.

It's a film that may not be as well-known as some of de Funès' other works, but it's definitely worth watching. I give the tattoo an 8/10 for its originality, humor, and the excellent performances of its lead actors. It's a delightful film that showcases a different side of de Funès' comedic range.