Micróbio & Gasolina

In their original context new French movies seem to be better than the ones that show up in the Australian multiplexes. It will be interesting to see if this one, LOVE or LE TOUT NOUVEAU TESTAMENT make it here.

M&G is an agreeable departure. The disaffected school boy chums build a car out of junk scrap metal and are disappointed that they can't register it but they still hit the road, disguising it as a timber shack - great moment of the vehicle we thought was a write-off rolling to the rescue in a cloud of smoke.

The switch to a serious ending helps the piece stay in the memory.

Audrey Tatou has a minor part to further disorient the viewers.

Microbe and gasoline is a comedy about two teens from Versailles who decide to run away in a car they built disguised as a house. The dialogue and events can be pretty funny at times but in some other scenes it just drags on and can be a little boring. It feels like it just doesn't go anywhere until it's about 40% done. But what gives it it's feel is how it embodies the adventures kids would dream of going on, running away and doing whatever you want. But the biggest driving force of the movie is the 2 main characters and their interactions. Daniel is a lonely do-nothing wimp, until he meets Theo, a new student who is like the driving force of the duo, a confident, idea filled, wise cracker. Both characters are somewhat untouched by reality, and don't seem to realize how the world works, which only adds to their charm. Though the story is sometimes slow and boring, the characters are what most make this film worth watching.

Sorry for my bad English. I wanted to write in Portuguese only to show the scope of this incredible film of Michel Gondry. At least the films co-produced by France I have been watching, seeking simplicity to tell a simpler story of characters that easily identify. This is the case here, too. Forget Gondry full of tricks is in The Science Of Sleep or Mood Indigo. Gondry just want us to know two amazing figures and this plays attention entirely on them. Sure, it's Michel Gondry. Their follies are there too. Whether in an airplane landing gear aft or own "car home," but still holding on is Theo, is Daniel. It's an honest story - honest conversations, honest performances - which depicts a phase of our lives that we should not tarnish what we're building inside of us. It is without doubt the best Gondry script. The dialogs are an amazing naturalness; well placed jokes, drama in some extent anyway. It's about life, but not at any time try to understand it, but I went with it with all the questions we encounter along the way. I hope the next Michel Gondry's work is so personal and sincere as this road movie. I even love the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or The Science of Sleep, I think this idea so simple has captivated me more than I can imagine. Even Gondry understood the need to be simple, because maybe that's what it's about life. The simplicity of a friendship.

Just watched M&B and was looking forward to, having read the synopsis.

For me it was ok and no more.

Youth discovering life had some interesting and funny moments. My advanced age may have had some struggle with certain revelation. (or was it denial and memory fading?) As an ex Frenchman I tried to link with those days for me, but it did not really work.

Perhaps I was wanting a little more about their creation... I have to confess that I have never heard of Gondry and somehow feel I may not have missed much about it. Yes I said "May" simply to try to be fair.

As for T Audrey... just a pinch of salt added to an ordinary 'repas" It made me think a little of the Australian film "Malcom" for which I seem to remember I derived more enjoyment.

Just the same I'm glad to see some did enjoy it very much.

Excellent adventure/coming of age story that is both honest and very entertaining. The two boys were about as real as you get and quite delightful too.

The pacing of the story was smooth and their different adventures worked well. I laughed out loud quite a few times.

The photography was very natural, and the dialogue between the two boys felt real.

I highly recommend this movie, especially for anyone who has less than fond memories of their early teen years.

Enjoy the show. I know I certainly did.