Les sous-doués

Back in the years of high school, a perfect age for this film, cinema for me mend summer time, sky roof theaters, uncomfortable canvas seats, mosquito repellants and a wish that it wouldn't rain.

And one day, I was old enough to take the bus for an one hour travel to the big city where the real cinema theaters were. Together with by best friend, I had my first experience of the short going to see Spiderman. At that age it actually looked good. But the second time we dared to make use of our teenage freedom, we went to this film. The theater was foul. The audience was delighted. We were laughing all the way to the end of the function and some even applauded when it was over.

I never forgot this experience. All the movies that followed had to be compared with this one.

Back in the '80s, in Greece, this film became a legend. French comedies were predominant in those days and we knew French comedians better than their American colleagues. A whole fashion of school movies was provoked by the success of this idea and several bad taste local versions were produced.

Today, apart from me and my friend, probably no one else remembers the comedy that thrilled the country. Personally I still wish for more.

I saw this movie a couple of days ago on cable TV. Even though it's quite old, it remains funny all the same.

It's about a group of teenagers who are just too dumb to pass their imminent exams for their baccalaureate, and the tremendous effort by their teachers to make them learn the lesson by the deadline (They even use a "Learning Machine", which beats up every student for their wrong answers).

After a misunderstanding involving a bomb, they are forced to take their exams supervised by the police, so they manage to cheat using some really weird tricks, like elastic coats that, when stretched, reveal the answers. The best thing about this movie is that it's amusing from beginning to end, never taking itself seriously. For instance, when an officer finds the bomb, as soon as he shouts "I've found it!" it explodes, leaving his smoldering (and still standing!) skeleton among the ruins of the school building.

"Les sous-doués" is a french comedy movie in which we watch a group of classmates who want to take the baccalaureate. But to succeed this they have to study very hard and they are not so much fan of studying. Also they belong to the high class so they go to a private high-school the Louis XIV and there they have very strict teachers who are willing to help them with any way to succeed to their exams and of course to gain reputation from their results. In this they will find some difficulties and there is the point where all the hilarious moments start to happen.

I really liked this movie because it belongs to those kind of movies in which you never stop to laugh and every moment something really funny happens. I also liked this movie because of the interpretation of Daniel Auteuil who played as Baptiste Lavalle and he was simply outstanding and I believe that in this movie every interpretation was equally good because each interpretation had a different part in this success. Every person who played in this movie had his own part in this and when all of these parts are combined the result which came out was simply the best.

Finally I have to say that "Les sous-doués" is one of the funniest french movies that I have ever seen and I strongly recommend it. I believe that the reason that was so good is because it does not exceed the limits of the comedy and stays on it and do not tire the audience.

An absolute must-see for those into teenage comedies. I really wish this one was distributed worldwide as it is somewhat reminiscing of Animal House and The Breakfast Club, but just much, much funnier.

The plot: The story of a bunch of students in a tiny private school. Always up to no good, they end up blowing up part of the school. As a result, they can be sent to jail or... pass their baccalaureate. Since they are absolute losers, they'll come up with the zaniest tricks and devices to cheat during both the written and oral exams (both supervised by the police !). This film is a riot from beginning to end, and after that, you will never forget the "Learning Machine" or Mr. Bruce, the sports teacher.

I spent 3 weeks in France on a foreign exchange/home-stay program and happened to see this film. I was only a second-year french student, but despite the language barrier, I laughed.. SO HARD.. at that movie. I'm sure my host family thought I had lost it. This is one of those movies you wipe the tears from your eyes after laughing so hard about. I'd give my right arm for a DVD of it. It brings to mind a sort of Inspector Cleauseau funniness. These kids are horrible pranksters, and the things they came up with don't quite hit you until the prank is pulled off. All in all, its just a fantastic movie. I wonder if I'll ever see it again...