Le retour du héros

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

For acting, twists, atmosphere, tension, dialogue and, not last, for opportunity for Jean Dujardin to use his character like a piece of clay , Le retour du heros is pure charming.

Indeed, the heart of film is the splendid performance of Melanie Laurent and the inspired use of beginning of french XIX century for a chain of letters, lies, eccentric stories and a pragmatic business around a not existent diamonds mine.

The story of a clever crook and naive victims, about some drops of Bovarism and a society finding the cure for boredom. And , sure, about a great hero serving, in impecable manner, his interests.

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.

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.