Coexister

With Fabrice Eboué belonging to the "Jamel Comedy Show" generation, I expected a funny movie, with some politically un-correct and daring. Alas, everything stays conventional, as if it was calibrated for prime time tv on a conservative channel - by a 50-ish director. We already have the generation born in the 1950's doing such movies after having their blast (at least a good part of Splendid, les Inconnus for example have past their blast and specialized in such comedy aimed for the France-centric), we do not need younger humorist to directly take that direction.

I don't know if he was restrained by its producers, but I failed to find real funny moments, not to say an original story past the pitch (yes, with only the pitch, it could have been something). I did not find anything to salvage except the intention behind the movie which raise its rating to an already generous 3/10.

This product made in Fabrice Eboué has the qualities of its author. He is not afraid to put humor and absurdity on subjects that might seem too sensitive for some people who might consider that it is not possible to make fun of everything.

The direction of the actors is subtle on gags that are sometimes not very subtle, but that work. The dramatic framework allows the use of humor on difficult subjects or at least not necessarily mainstream. A fake imam, a real priest and a Rabbi in forced retirement must cohabit, coexist, as a marketing product (as were the Village People in their time, on different themes, but it is the same concept). The producer is Fabrice Eboué, helped by Audrey Lamy, perfect here, brings his share of humor and counterpoint to the main comic arc. The script is well written and makes the three stories coexist: the coexistence of our religious, the sentimental plot of Audrey Lamy, and the third being that of the producer Fabrice Eboué himself.

On the coexistence of religious, the scenario is in the predictable and expected regarding the themes addressed, causing humor, but the film is not there.

For me, it's one of the ten best French comedies of the 21st century. Even with a few lapses of pace in the second half, Fabrice Eboué has produced a masterpiece of humor. The actors are in top form, and a number of sequences deserve to be preserved at the Cinémathèque, notably the gay rapper (a wonderful cameo by Jean-Pascal Zadi) and the discussion on Palestine. Proof that it's possible to make people laugh intelligently at serious, divisive subjects.