O Gendarme e os Extra-Terrestres

Odd as it may sound, I consider "Le Gendarme et les Extra-Terrestres" as one of movies that sparked my personal interest (read: obsession) with Sci-Fi & horror movies. That is bizarre because the movies of French comedy legend/genius Louis de Funès, and particularly the cycle of "The Gendarme" movies, are straightforward comedies revolving around silly characters and absurd situations. This entry (the fifth and one before last in the series) is a slapstick comedy too, but it was the only one in the series to also feature a couple of Sci-Fi elements.

With their textbook spacecraft, aliens land in St. Tropez and Marshall Ludovic Cruchot and his team of dimwit gendarmes are up against extraterrestrial perpetrators that can duplicate the exact looks, voices, and behavior of human beings. The alien enemies are nevertheless easy to recognize, though, as they make the sound of a hollow metal drum if you touch them, they drink motor oil, and the totally break apart when in contact with water.

Admittedly, in retrospect, the concept and especially the special effects are incredibly tacky, cheap, and borderline laughable. And yet, when I was 6-7 years old, and the movie got shown on television every couple of months, it simultaneously fascinated and frightened me! Notably the sight of an alien that, after the water of a broken aquarium poured over him, robotically stumbles over the beach and fully disintegrates, left quite a big impression on me. Of course, it primarily still is a comedy with all the regular de Funès trademarks, but it's a nostalgic and fun example of how non-horror and non-SciFi writers/directors interpret the alien invasion subgenre.

The gendarme and the extra-terrestrials is a unique entry in the Gendarme series, blending comedy with a touch of science fiction. Louis de Funès returns as the beloved Sergeant Cruchot, and this time, he finds himself dealing with aliens who have landed in Saint-Tropez. The film takes a bold departure from the previous entries in the series, introducing a storyline that is both unexpected and hilariously executed.

De Funès is once again in top form, delivering a performance that is full of energy, wit, and physical comedy. The film's premise may be unusual, but it works thanks to its lighthearted tone and the charm of its lead actor. The special effects, while dated, add to the film's quirky appeal, and the humor is consistent throughout.

Overall, the gendarme and the extra-terrestrials is a fun and entertaining film that stands out for its originality and humor. It's a must-watch for fans of Louis de Funès and anyone looking for a comedy that's a little different. I give it an 8/10 for its creativity, humor, and the fantastic performance by de Funès.

Louis de Funes and company discover that a flying saucer has landed, and the alien can imitate humans almost perfectly, if you ignore minor details like drinking gasoline, shooting lasers from its eyes and sounding like a hollow metal drum. But then nobody is perfect.

Jacques Tati once said that if he wanted to, he could have made Hulot movies and wound up a millionaire. He offered some titles, including 'Hulot in St. Tropez'. A bunch of standard gags are included, including de Funes dressing up like a nun and riding a bicycle.

This comedy is full of background jokes which you don't spot the first time round, (or even 3rd time). Funes is brilliant. We saw this several times on a rainy holiday! My kids loved it.

The plot meanders a bit. Comedy without gross-out, those were the days!!

Botcher Cruchot encounters himself attempting to save people of Saint Tropez from an outer space invasion carried out by humanoid aliens . As always , there appears customary gendarmes partners , Marechals (Michael Modo, Maurice Risch, Jean Pierre Rambal, Guy Grosso) , chief adjutant Jerome (Michael Galabru) , but this time isn't the sympathetic Jean Lefevre . When they aware an outer space saucer the Gendarmerie Nationale is revolutionized , Ludovic Cruchot (Louis De Funes) goes into in action , and he's secretly moving in disguise , dressing as a nun . The only way to discover the Extra-Terrestres from real human is which they feel deep thirst and take compulsively oil drinks ; furthermore they sound like empty metallic cans when they punch them . Then , the highlights happen as when the aliens impersonate as gendarmes and the events go wrong .

This is an amusing story and pretty entertaining farce with the master comic Luis De Funes . Lively situations full of slapstick , slapdash and too much fun . The pic contains a light criticism to French police called Nationale Gendarmerie . Louis De Funes undertakes several adventures , overacting , as always , as he puts intense mocking faces , grimaces , tongue twister and lots of mimic gesticulation . Claude Gensac , as ordinary Ludovic Cruchot's spouse, she collaborated five films as wife , however this time doesn't appear , being substituted by Maria Mauban . Fine local photography with luminous sun under St. Tropez's blue sky . Lively and catching musical score by Raymond Lefevre includes usual leitmotif with musical background on habitual ending parade where the gendarmes are replaced by false aliens . However , it packs cheesy and ridiculous special effects referring the flying saucer . The movie is ingeniously written and directed by regular director series , Jean Girault . If you like Funes' nutty acting, you'll like this one.

Other movies about our intimate gendarmes are the following : ¨Gendarme of St. Tropez¨ , ¨Gendarme get married¨ , ¨Gendarme at New York¨ , ¨Gendarme takes off¨ and the last acting of the great Louis De Funes , an authentic Farceur: ¨Gendarme and the Gendarmettes¨.