L'enquête corse

The awesome duo, who brought the "Visitors" to the stratospheric level of cult classic of the French cinema, is teaming up again for a pleasant Corsican comedy. However, it does not reach the level of the medieval and temporal epic, nor that of "Welcome to the Sticks" in the same kind of genre.

A good portrait of Corsica, those who know this part of France will definitely enjoy it. Many actors are actual residents of Corsica, and the ambiance is nicely translated.

Even though the scenario isn't very complicated and elaborated, the story keeps you in and melts with the various aspects of Corsica : beautiful scenery, good charcuterie, good cheese, strong character (chants Corses, gangs preventing over-building), and of course the exquisite Myrte.

Christian Clavier and Jean Reno fit their role very well, a good movie that will make you laugh and want to visit this beautiful part of France.

I watched this film recently on a French public TV station.

In the hope I'll see something in the vein of "Opération Corned Beef", one of my favourite French comedies which also stars Jean Reno and Christian Clavier, I got disappointed by this one. The dialogues between this duo aren't as memorable and performed not as snappy as in the aforementioned film.

Sure the Corsican landscapes and towns captured by this film are beautiful, it's not by coincidence people call Corsica "L'île de beauté" (The island of beauty) and the main actress is very nice to look at, but I think something like the comics album "Astérix en Corse" incapsulates better the Corsican mentality than this film even if there are a lot of parallels between these two.

In the end I have to admit I never read the comics which inspired "L'enquête corse", maybe I would have enjoyed the film more if I did.

It's quite simple: It's almost impossible for foreigners to understand what's going on in this movie. You have to understand that this movie is based on a famous french comic-book. Therefore the jokes are exaggerated and - without any exception - all characters fit into well-known French/Corsican clichés. It's definitely not a big movie - but for Frenchmen (or people living in France, like me) it's at least very amusing. The Corsican landscape is pretty well filmed. Some of the scenes are indeed very stupid and without any logic - but please remember the comic book background. Reno and Clavier are o.k., but the real sensation is the incredibly beautiful leading lady (Ange Leoni's sister) - she is just worth looking this picture.

I saw this movie for the first time last night, and absolutely laughed my head off! I am an American who does speak French, so I don't know what laughs might be "lost in translation" for some non-francophones, but, the sheer comical situations, personalities, and facial expressions, I think are hilarious in any language. The added treat is the extremely lovely settings, indoor and outdoor, where the film takes place. Now I feel I must see Corsica at least once in my lifetime.

Unlike many French films, which are so often self-conscious, unimaginative, and non-spontaneous, "L'enquête corse" is totally spontaneous and refreshing. It delivers!