Mon Oncle is about Hulot, an old fashioned gentleman who lives in a bustling old world town. His lively neighborhood is sharply contrasted with the cold, futuristic home his sister lives in with her husband and son. There is practically no exposure to the outside world within the gated courtyard of Hulot's relatives, just the organized efficiency of technological gadgets. The boy can't stand his lifeless surroundings so it's only natural that he prefers to run off with his uncle instead of playing with the expensive toys his father gives him.
Hulot's sister isn't satisfied with his impoverished bachelor's lifestyle but her attempts to change it go terribly wrong as the jobs she tries to place him into are in a world of mechanized production (of plastics no less) that he isn't equipped to deal with and the neighbor woman she tries to set him up with is ensconced in a lifestyle even less hospitable than the modern factories. Eventually Hulot's humanity proves to be indomitable and his family finds itself adapting to his needs since he can't be adapted to theirs.
At 115 minutes the mostly plot less Mon Oncle proves to be slight and overlong in spite of the general likability of the protagonist. For a film that is ostensibly a comedy the humor is too subtle to keep the film interesting for its entire running time. Still, the soundtrack is delightful and there is enough charm in Mon Oncle to make it a worthwhile experience for patient viewers.
Hulot's sister isn't satisfied with his impoverished bachelor's lifestyle but her attempts to change it go terribly wrong as the jobs she tries to place him into are in a world of mechanized production (of plastics no less) that he isn't equipped to deal with and the neighbor woman she tries to set him up with is ensconced in a lifestyle even less hospitable than the modern factories. Eventually Hulot's humanity proves to be indomitable and his family finds itself adapting to his needs since he can't be adapted to theirs.
At 115 minutes the mostly plot less Mon Oncle proves to be slight and overlong in spite of the general likability of the protagonist. For a film that is ostensibly a comedy the humor is too subtle to keep the film interesting for its entire running time. Still, the soundtrack is delightful and there is enough charm in Mon Oncle to make it a worthwhile experience for patient viewers.