A Cabra

I spent a fun evening at the movies watching the 1981 comedy 'La Chevre' written and directed by Francis Veber and starring Pierre Richard and Gérard Depardieu. It's quite interesting to see the two French actors at a moment when the paths of their careers were crossing. By the time this film was made Pierre Richard was an established comedian with a few big hits in his records, while (the thinner than today) Depardieu was an ascending young actor but his great roles were still a few years ahead. It was the first out of three films the two actors made together. When the third was made, Depardieu's fame and prestige exceeded by far the one of his partner.

The story of the film is ridiculous by design, and I need to point to one rare moments of disagreement with the opinion of my idol in cinema critic, Roger Ebert who gave just 1.5 stars out of 4 to the film. The pretext of story is meant to be stupid, it's part of the comic design of the script. It goes like this. The daughter of a rich French businessman - beautiful but unlucky in all she does - is kidnapped in Mexico. When all classical means to find her fail, the solution is thought to pair the detective (Depardieu) with a distraught accountant in the businessman's company (Rchard) who is as unlucky and as much a walking catastrophe as the vanished girl. The two are sent to Mexico in the hope that the chains of bad luck will lead to the same place where the girl is being held.

Bad luck and in-adaptation to the the real world are sources of comedy since Laurel and Hardy. Francis Veber brings the genre close to perfection. The Richard - Depardieu couple works perfectly. While Richard is the master of the physical gags, Depardieu complements him and provides the amplifying counterpoint with his annoyed stares and exasperated eyebrows moves. One deploys a lot of energy, the other takes a minimalist approach. The result is explosive. Watching this film is far from being only an exercise in nostalgia, it's the guarantee of a good time spent on really fun comedy.

One more thing - the film is one of the more than 250(!) films that benefit from the music composed by Vladimir Cosma . The score is wonderful.

And a question. I could not figure out or find information about the significance of the title. What does 'Le chevre' ('The Goat') means. It must be some French slang that escapes me. Or something else. Any hint will be appreciated.

These two actors are great together, and their three films are all funny (La Chevre, Les Comperes, Les Fugitifs), but this one is the best because of its concept that it will take an unlucky detective to find the missing unlucky girl. But he is more than unlucky; he is also a deluded jerk (though not a mean one)who doesn't even know he is unlucky. His partner, a very competent realist (and perfect straight man) has to rescue him time after time to follow his unlucky course toward the girl. Great French humor.

A hilarious comedy, and justifiably a box-office smash in France, this is a must-see for fans of the two stars. Richard and Depardieu are at their best while their characters experience mishap after mishap in trying to find a businessman's daughter. Remade a decade later as "Pure Luck", this film stands as further proof that the original usually outshines the remake. Rent this film if you like to laugh.

This movie is from 1981 and it shows ... Still, it is one of the (if not THE best one) best comedies I have ever seen. IT IS DEFINITELY A _MUST SEE_ . The acting is terrific and I have not enough praises for the plot.

It is better than the other depardieu/richard/veber movies ("Les Fugitifs" and "Les compères" - Yet they are very funny as well). The actors are excellent and Veber is the recordman about the movies that have been remade by Hollywood - there must be a reason for that. that with the praise of the people that posted their opinion here should convince you to give it a try.

To sum it up : you have to watch it !

I just cannot understand how such a movie can "only "have a weighted average of 6.9 ??? Seen over and over and over with so many different people, I never could find a single person not laughing the whole way through!!! The usual "Different characters" are this time represented by Depardieu and Pierre Richard, both absolutely wonderful!! A must see... If you loved this watch "Les Compères" and "Les fugitifs" with the same Richard/Depardieu tandem even though they are a tone under "La chèvre"...