Double Zéro

I never intended to watch this movie. I went to the mall, but as traffic was very high, I was late. So, the only tickets that I could get where these.

As the movie started, I was beginning to think that I had made a mistake. It looked like a trivial/boring "James Bond"-style movie. But after watching further, I changed my opinion.

I think this movie achieved its aim. It is very funny (in a "French" way, I'm thinking here at "Taxi" and "Tais-toi!") showing how meaningless a lot of "James Bond" style movies are. Even if the action was somehow silly (sometimes even a lot exaggerated), it represented a "comic" look of the "007" movies.

All in all, the movie is a great parody and I really recommend it to anybody who has a strong sense of humor. Whoever loved "Taxi", "Tais-to!" or Louis de Funes movies, will love this one too.

The "James Bond spoof" has been done so many times by now that it should be considered a genre by itself, and "Double Zero" has very little that's fresh to offer. Do not think for a moment that because this is a French production it has any more sophistication or wit than, say, Leslie Nielsen's "Spy Hard" - it doesn't. It does have a glossy look and large-scale "megalomaniac villain" sets that recall those of such Bond films as "The Spy Who Loved Me" and "Moonraker", but nothing very funny happens inside them. The highlights are: 1) Plenty of fighting girls that I wanted to see more of (the fight on the beach is terrific), 2) A digitized horny rabbit (you'll see), and 3) The villain's uncanny resemblance to a younger version of Alan Rickman. (**)

"Double Zero" tells the story of two secret agents, played by the French comedians Eric and Ramzy, who are sent on a mission basically because they are expendable, but of course, they manage to fight heroically against the bad guys, more by chaos than strategy though. The villain is called Le Male, a joke lost in translation because in French it means "male" as well as "evil", and with all the pretty ladies around, the double meaning is important.

The question is: do we really need another James Bond parody after Leslie Nielsen's Naked Gun, Johnny English and Austin Powers? Maybe not, but "Double Zero" is better than I expected and has a couple of funny ideas along the way. I liked the character of d'Auckland, a "sleeper" who is reactivated and eager to prove he can still be a great agent. And the rabbit was brilliant! So, it was okay to rent once.

I'm a big fan of Eric and Ramzy but I can't believe I've spent money on a ticket for this movie. In fact, I'm afraid I've paid twice for this piece of junk: once when I've bought a ticket and once as a taxpayer: I wouldn't be surprised if public fundings to support french art (doh!) were granted to produce it.

Poor jokes, gross humor, I might have smiled once during the whole film. Most expensive smile in my life. If I could set a mark lower than 1, I would have gladly done it.

Don't waste your time watching this movie, buy a copy of "La tour montparnasse infernale" instead !

Indeed they are ... at the expense of the backers. If this film was up for a prize then 'Double Zero' is what I'd give it.

Some people may find this funny. I would not like to meet them.

If these two clowns are the best 'agents' that France could find, then I'd consider emigrating 'toute suite' ...

Gerard P has struck out with this one and wasted not only a great deal of money but nearly 90 minutes of human existence. His last outing with 'Riders' has been well eclipsed with this one. Anyone who remembers 'Riders' will certainly remember the awful performance by Bruce Payne. Faux American accent combined with about as much acting talent as a tin of salmon.

He seems to have found a vertiable secret treasure trove of z-list actors for this.

Go ahead, watch 'Double Zero' but don;t say that I didn't warn you.