L'animale

This movie is a lot of fun,i watched it when i was a kid when it came out in Europe and i remember laughing in several scenes.I don't know how Belmondo's style translates to American audiences but to the rest of the world he was a big star when this movie came out and made a fantastic duo with Raquel.Raquel Welch always had a good flair for comedy and this material allows her to show her abilities.Here she is supposed to be a stunt-woman,partnering stuntman Belmondo in films and wanting to get married and she is really a lot of guts and fun.Belmondo plays the stuntman and a second role as a gay film star who resembles the stuntman. Belmondo is on his turf here and delivers.There was a lot of publicity about the stunts in this movie.Almost all of them performed by Belmondo himself,especially impressive a flying stunt where Belmodo is standing on-top of a flying plane.This movie is a good showcase for both Belmondo and Raquel.

Watchable little slapstick comedy about a stuntman (Belmondo), his stuntwoman girlfriend (Welch), how the film industry treats them, how they get by when out of a job, etc. Belmondo plays a double role, as a gay movie star and his look-a-like stunt double. He apparently has enormous fun playing both of them completely over the top (as the character of the film demands). For my taste though, his stunt character demands a bit too much love and attention from the audience; we are supposed to route for him getting the girl etc. and I found this somewhat patronising.

The film is at its best in moments of fast and furious comedy, for example a memorable scene has Belmondo creating havoc while wearing a Gorilla suit. However, these moments leave Raquel Welch (who looks fantastic in a wet blouse) a bit on the sidelines: slapstick is not quite her metier.

the movie is a favourite of my childhood, after watch and watch and watch again, it's become quite cheesy for me , not bored , just a feeling of "cheese".

the most amazing thing about the movie is the score composed by vladimir cosma , the score got a nomination by the french film academy--Cesar's highbrows (note: Cesar like any other academic "elite" groups , never have given a commercial movie a chance , but this time. they made an exception. however it unluckily but inevitably lost to Miklós Rózsa's Providence in which I swear I didn't hear any music except some noise from some factories) , I guess the score must be the easiest listening music of all time, hands down! (best enjoy it at summer)

the second most wonderful thing(close to the first) is naturally belmondo, mike is drop dead hot. he is shining and spreading everywhere,his smile, his gesture, his walk, he is really a lovely man as for Bruno, belmondo showed his another side----his traditional acting talent....

the third thing is the french supporting cast Charles Gérard,Mario David, Julien Guiomar,Dany Saval,Raymond Gérôme,Aldo Maccione,and of course Claude Chabrol who resembles a panda as himself, well, no one tries to steal the show, though everyone has the ability to do..

I care least for Raquel Welch, who although has done her best is replaceable, but I admit they have good chemistry. and as an American actress she has something different..

this is also director Zidi's best film, his other films(including"The Wing and the Thigh", "Ripoux") failed completely, i recommend his 4 films with charlots bros and 2 films with auteuil, they are not magnificent, but at least very amusing

Michel Audiard ,the respectable dialog writer also should be given some credit for his collaboration

film buffs! give yourself a break , watch this picture like ordinary people do

One of the greatest films about moviemaking ever. Hundreds of extras running and fighting, a stuntman is jumping and falling down a 30 meter staircase again and again, getting hurt more and more, while the director is only worried about entertaining his leading role superstar bruno ferrari (what a name!), who's performance is getting worse and worse. And after take 15 the 1st AD whispers 'Dont you think take 1 was great, and if you want, you can mix it with take 3', and the director yells 'Okay, let's have lunch!

As he had already proved in other films, Jean Paul Belmondo is possibly the closest European equivalent to Jackie Chan in terms of the stunts and acrobatics he is willing to do (another candidate: Terence Hill). In "L'Animal" he is in peak form and takes some life-threatening risks (including standing on the top of a flying bi-plane!), and, playing two different characters (a stuntman, brave but with a knack for screwing things up, and a movie star, popular, spoiled and gay), he shows his comic talents as well. Raquel Welch does her share of physical stuff, and, needless to say, she is a total babe. This is not a great comedy by any means, and you'll find no substance whatsoever here, but it's still enjoyable enough, especially if you like the two leads. (**1/2)