Le grandi vacanze

The Exchange Student, starring the inimitable Louis de Funès, easily earns a 9/10 from me. Standing alongside classics like Fantomas and The Gendarme, this film highlights de Funès' exceptional comedic talent, making it one of his best.

In this delightful comedy, de Funès' signature energy and comedic timing are on full display. His ability to convey humor through a blend of physical comedy and expressive facial reactions is as brilliant as ever. The film's storyline, revolving around the antics and misadventures of an exchange student, provides the perfect setup for de Funès to showcase his comedic prowess.

What sets The Exchange Student apart is its clever writing and the seamless way humor is woven into the plot. The situational comedy, combined with de Funès' performance, creates a series of laugh-out-loud moments that are both timeless and universally appealing.

Moreover, the film's pacing is spot-on, ensuring that the comedy never feels forced or overdone. Each scene is carefully crafted to maximize the humor while advancing the story, making for an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable viewing experience.

In summary, The Exchange Student is a standout film in Louis de Funès' illustrious career. It's a testament to his talent and a must-watch for fans of classic comedy. Its blend of clever writing, impeccable timing, and de Funès' unmatched comedic style earns it a high rating and a place among the best of his works.

I am sure there is not only human being who could not love Louis De Funès, for me the funniest French actor of all times. I admit that maybe foreign audiences - not French I mean - could have some difficulties because of the language and humor subleties. There are hundreds kinds of humor, depending of the countries and cultures. Unlike drama stories, that are understandable anywhere, no matter the country, languages, unlike this, humor is totally different, it is far more difficult to make laugh than weep. Concerning this film, the topic is totally simple and lousy, but as usual, only Louis de Funès character is worth, justifying mass of audiences to come and make the gross for the production companies. I confound this one with LE PETIT BAIGNEUR, always with Louis De Funès. The kind of actor that can reunite all kind of audiences, all kinds, from all generations.

Les Grandes Vacances isn't the best movie with Louis de Funès but it's a movie with Louis de Funès so per definition it's always worth a watch. He plays the usual very nervous but convincing madman, a role that suits him so good. Every movie with him is like watching a one-man-show. Remove Louis de Funès from this movie and you just have a bleak story nobody is interested in, but with the best comedian France has ever produced it's just different. I rewatched this movie just to enjoy his gimmicks and facial expressions, like most people do.

1960s style French comedy with better than average gags and the comic timing of Funes. This diverting film deals with a stiff Principal named Charles : Louis de Funes, of a rigid boarding school. On vacation he is planning a student exchange between his son Philippe and MacFarrell's daughter : Martine Kelly, but Philip actually plans to save an amusing holiday by boat and replacing himself by the fat nerd Stephane : Maurice Rish. To be aware Charles of his true activitates, that's why he follows his son, chasing the yacht by sailing, or flying . But then his colleague : Ferdy Mayne, soon joins him and things go wrong.

This enjoyable French comedy contains amusing incidents, funny set pieces, slapstick, slapdash, simple humor and loads of fun . Of course, the central piece is Louis de Funes himself and his comic genious, while delivering a towering main performance, a prime example of a first role carrying a film . In fact this role as a strict school headmaster was particularly written for this great French comedy superstar. As it is a Louis de Funes show, giving a sympathetic acting , as usual, he is very good providing his habitual Tics, gestures , tongue twister and overacting with lots of gesticulation. Costarred by the likeable young girl Martine Kelly who also played with Funes in Hibernatus and The Band, in addition Ferdy Mayne who acted in Fearless Vampire Killers by Polanski . Here Funes is accompanied by ordinary actors who usually show up in Saint Tropez Gendarme series as Claude Gensac also playing his wife , Guy Grosso and Maurice Risch. And brief appearance by Silvia Dionisio, subsequently a star of the Italian sex comedy.

Agreeable musical score by regular Raymond Lefebre that scored Saint Tropez franchise. As well as colorful cinematography by Marcel Grignon, this notorious cameraman is considered to be one of the best of French cinema. The picture was amusingly and lively directed by Jean Girault who made the Saint Tropez series with Louis de Funes. Girault was a comedy expert, directing a lot , such as : The miser, Squek squek, Jo, The troops of St Tropez, Gendarme in balade, Gendarme in New York, Gendarme and the Gendarmettes, Gendarme and the creatures of the outer space, Les Charlots, among others. Rating 7/10. Well worth watching. The flick will appeal to Louis de Funes fans.

it is not the best movie of Louis de Funes. but that fact not represents a great sin because the old recipes works, the humor is good, the clash between the values of college director and his students - amusing and the adventures to Le Havre nice at whole. a good point - the conflict between French and Englishmen, almost a sketch but used with inspired precise. a film about holiday,interesting, not extraordinary or seductive but covered by the talent of one of greatest actors. a film for entire family. and that fact is the essential virtue for discover/remind the spirit of a French cinema style. summer, holiday and a great actor. it could be enough.