Certains l'aiment... froide

This is not a funny film. This is a very boring film. Maybe the worse made by De Funes. The only funny things in the whole movie are the final, in which De Funes steals the point on the letter I contained in the word FIN (END) and the character of Jean Richard. Just for the fans of Louis De Funes, who will be disappointed, he does not have a main role, he appears just a little and he's not funny at all.

A French comedy of the Fifties. it is charming but is also kind of unbearable. Humour mild nutter and grimaçant is too much pushed and ends up weighing down this film which could have remained in the memories notament by its distribution: De Funès in full form and irresistible, Noël Roquevert is great as usual but seems lost in this bouffonery, Jean Richard grimace much but remains funny contrary to Francis Blanche who is let in full freedom and makes too too much .

The old Valmorin died 200 years ago. The notary tells the family about the inheritance: the one who is terminally ill, will receive the money. They all try their luck with getting ill before the other. One family member pretends to be deaf, another pretends to have a terrible back ache. Etcetera.

This film begins interesting but doesn't continue quite like it. It's madcap comedy, but not funny enough, and scenes often feel like 'fillers' for the film. The kind of comedy that drags after a while because of all the shouting and running.

One problem is that the characters are too much a caricature to care about as a viewer. Over the top acting and humor are too often confused. This is an example. One other problem is that the film lacks a decent ending.

De Funès is the finance manager of the 'winners'. He plays his standard routine as bossy, impatient man more energetic than in later films. But he's only a supporting character. He isn't even the funniest bit of the film, that is Jean Richard, who is actually quite comical as an explorer with a lot of tics.

This film could have been a great short comedy, I suppose, but in this way it is average. I rate it 5/10.