La grande maffia...

This french comedy from the 1970s is so incredibly idiotic that it looks as if everyone was on glue on the set. Surrealistic gags, inane dialog, wildly over-the-top performances by generally excellent actors make for a rather unforgettable experiment. Scene after scene, one keeps wondering what they were thinking of making this movie. It looks very much as if it was improvised on the set day by day. Top-notch performances from Francis Blanche, Sim and Sidney Chaplin (Charlie's son...I kid you not!) more than compensate for the absence of any logic and good taste. This was the third movie directed by Philippe Clair, and it is arguably one of his best ones, mostly thanks to the performers. Aldo Maccione and his two partners (the trio then known as "Les Tontos") ham it up so much that they make the Three stooges look like wax figures! Recommended for fans of stupid french comedies and lovers of the so-bad-it's-good genre.