Inspecteur la Bavure

The death of Coluche at 42 in an accident was a tragedy for French film lovers. The man had a short, flabby body and a face that never stood out in a crowd. Nathan Lane would be a contemporary equivalent.

Here he's a detective fresh out of the academy (lowest mark in class) who gets the assignment of bodyguard to a spoiled rich girl reporter (wonderful Dominique Lavanant). She's been interviewed on TV and has questioned the virility of a mobster (Depardieu) who then kidnaps her. The usual satirical jabs at the police run throughout the film. It's not as good as Tchao pantin but it's diverting.

I wanted to watch this movie because Coluche was the new king of comedy after De Funès and it happens in Paris in the 80s, a better time than actually! The movie starts really well because, as usual with Zidi, this rookie cop meets totally unexpected situations! It's all the more funny that it makes fun of cops and it's good change of wind ("naked gun" would follow this trail too...) Lavanant is really good as a courageous journalist and proves that we don't need ultra sexy babes in movies! Paris is resumed to the famous Quai Des Orfèvres, Champs Elysés, and Tower Eiffel district… Then, Depardieu arrives as public enemy number 1: He plays well the malicious cool buddy but unfortunately, the movie then goes in a poor direction and except the hilarious moment with the air puppet, the ending is not as much good. That's why I would like to read the comics to discover if there is an alternative story!

In 'Inspector Blunder' it was just Coluche, Coluche and more Coluche everywhere. The great comic actor made his presence felt in all the scenes to such a large extent that even a bigger star like Gérard Depardieu had to content himself by playing the second fiddle. This film's best lines were written for Coluche who saw himself transformed from a shy policeman into a clever hero who would not stop at anything to salvage the reputation of Parisian police force. Director Claude Zidi received great support from his screen writing partner Jean Bouchaud to craft numerous hilarious scenes whose motto was to establish that there are many policemen who could be classified as bumbling idiots. Audiences can watch with interest how their methods might not be practical but they do help in bringing the results. When all is said and done, it is the results which matter the most. Apart from Coluche and Depardieu, actress Dominique Lavanant garnered ample praise for her role as a brave journalist who doesn't show any kind of fear in getting the better of a vicious gangster.

Inspecteur La Bavure is the kind of movie you would show to kids so they'd learn something about French culture (Depardieu, Coluche, ...) but it's also a good and funny way to learn French ! Although I'm almost 21 and I still enjoy that kind of movies.

If you like De Funes, you'll surely like Coluche's movies.

It's the story about a cop who's really clumsy and gets himself into a lot of trouble. It's got that fabulous 'old' French humour in it. What I mean with 'old' is like de Funes or Pierre Richard. The new kind would be 'Mission Cleopatre'.

People has got to know who Coluche is. He's one of this people that made it by being themselves and who did a lot for the others (just take a look at Les Restos du Coeur - association which organizes once a year a big concert and a tour with a bunch of famous French actors and singers and with the money they collect they buy food for the poorer)

Anyway if you want to spend a nice evening without too much thinking I recommend it.