Bad campy French comedy, with lots of unfanny slapstick, a lot of silliness and very few nice gags. Sophie Marceau is cute and charming in her youth, Marie Laforêt does a competent job and has a strong presence, but Jean-Paulo Belmondo is very unconvincing in the leading role, partially due his unskilled overacting and because he does not fit in that character which is a mix of Don Juan de Marco and James Bond. As a matter of fact, the whole concept of the story is not good at all.
14 Reviews
Great actor's performance by Bebel
RodrigAndrisan26 March 2017
The film doesn't have a great script. All rely on the personal charm of Jean-Paul Belmondo, great and funny, as usual. A very young Sophie Marceau is also very charming and efficient. A not so young Marie Laforêt does what she can. Rosy Varte the same, even better, in a smaller role than Laforêt. Gérard Hernandez, small role too, the waiter from the Indian restaurant, is funny too. The music by Philippe Sarde is not great. Without Belmondo, with any other actor as the character Stephane Margelle, the film will be boring without shudder, without a charm. Jean-Paul fills the screen, he is the salt and the pepper.
A lot of harmless fun
lazarillo6 September 2014
A hilariously inveterate womanizer (Jean-Paul Belmondo) drops his wife (Marie Laforet)off at the airport so she can go away for Easter weekend. He immediately picks up a young woman (Sophie Marceau), who has just had a fight with her married boyfriend. He gets her back to his apartment and is preparing for a long weekend of hot stranger sex, but then his wife suddenly returns, and he has to make up a spur-of-the-moment story of the young girl being his long-lost daughter. The girl plays along, but this leads to a whole series of increasingly ridiculous lies and comical situations (such as when her real mother shows up).
This is an old-fashioned European comedy that tends to differ from more modern Hollywood comedies in that the protagonist does not have to be sympathetic, but can be a philandering cad or hypocritical blow-hard. Belmondo though, a legend in French movies since his seminal appearance in Godard's "Breathless", does make his character quite charming, even though he's a chronically philandering cad who tells one bald-faced lie after another. Marie Laforet is also good as his wife, who keeps a good poker-face throughout, so you're never sure how much, if any, of his ridiculous stories she is actually buying, or whether she is just torturing him for her own amusement. Sophie Marceau shows off her spectacular, nubile breasts quite a bit (mostly just to tease her lecherous much older suitor), but she also easily goes toe-to-toe with Belmondo acting-wise (as she would the next year with Gerard Depardieu in "Police"), which is pretty impressive for an actress who (if IMDb dates can be believed) was only 17 or 18 at the time.
Continental European movies at that time really specialized in wild car chase scenes that would make Hal Needham hang his head in shame, so there are a number of those kind of shoe-horned into the plot as well. Still, all the zany situations, bare breasts, and car chase footage serve to speed this comedy along, making it a pretty fun ride even it's pretty much as light as a soufflé and about as substantial. I actually kind of miss comedies like this, compared to the ones today where the main character always has to be likable (even when is he is played by Adam Sandler) and invariably falls in love and/or learns a moral lesson by the end. I suppose these old-fashioned European movies could be considered more "sexist" (as opposed to, say, "Just Go with It" and "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry"), but I don't personally buy that as even the young girl here is far more clever than the buffoonish male. This movie is mostly just a lot of harmless fun.
This is an old-fashioned European comedy that tends to differ from more modern Hollywood comedies in that the protagonist does not have to be sympathetic, but can be a philandering cad or hypocritical blow-hard. Belmondo though, a legend in French movies since his seminal appearance in Godard's "Breathless", does make his character quite charming, even though he's a chronically philandering cad who tells one bald-faced lie after another. Marie Laforet is also good as his wife, who keeps a good poker-face throughout, so you're never sure how much, if any, of his ridiculous stories she is actually buying, or whether she is just torturing him for her own amusement. Sophie Marceau shows off her spectacular, nubile breasts quite a bit (mostly just to tease her lecherous much older suitor), but she also easily goes toe-to-toe with Belmondo acting-wise (as she would the next year with Gerard Depardieu in "Police"), which is pretty impressive for an actress who (if IMDb dates can be believed) was only 17 or 18 at the time.
Continental European movies at that time really specialized in wild car chase scenes that would make Hal Needham hang his head in shame, so there are a number of those kind of shoe-horned into the plot as well. Still, all the zany situations, bare breasts, and car chase footage serve to speed this comedy along, making it a pretty fun ride even it's pretty much as light as a soufflé and about as substantial. I actually kind of miss comedies like this, compared to the ones today where the main character always has to be likable (even when is he is played by Adam Sandler) and invariably falls in love and/or learns a moral lesson by the end. I suppose these old-fashioned European movies could be considered more "sexist" (as opposed to, say, "Just Go with It" and "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry"), but I don't personally buy that as even the young girl here is far more clever than the buffoonish male. This movie is mostly just a lot of harmless fun.
Great Bébel, Bad Movie...!
u-fessler10 April 2006
First, I have to say that I am a big fan of Jean-Paul Belmondo, ever since I saw him in the french original "A Bout De Suffle" of the later remake "Breathless" (with Richard Gere). But this film is a total mistake. He might have regretted it a few times to have appeared in it, but I guess the salary wasn't too bad. And well, there's Sophie Marceau, a very nice-looking woman and talented actress, who might just as well have been lured into this movie by plain money. I cannot say that I've seen a lot of movies in my life that are really worse than this but it doesn't do the great Bébel justice. In my opinion it makes no sense to waste one's time watching this picture, since it is completely idiotic with a lot of bad dialogs and other mistakes. I first saw this movie when I was about eleven years old. I remember it was a hot summer and I went to the cinema for no specific reason other than to kill some time. I didn't know what I was in for but the movie was so bad I can still remember how bad it was. Yesterday I had the opportunity to watch it again, this time on TV. I must say, now at an age well thrice as old as the first time, I could take a second look and found it was really as bad as I remembered it. Belmondo is a great actor but he made some really silly movies, maybe just for the money. Who knows. At least, I know this is one of the silly ones he made, definitely.
Perfect comedy
gerazoli28 February 2005
Perfect! Are there only two fans of this movie? Unbelievable! I think, this is one of Belmondo's greatest act. We can see, that he played in several plays. IN THEATRE!!! The story is usual but it's not a problem! Maybe the 5.4 is for the theatrical scenes. I enjoyed each word of the film. This movie is a glorious victory of the European film. Williams is good. Carrey is great. But drama was born in Europe.( Actually, only a European actor can play this role.) Belmondo is perfect, Laforet is perfect, Marceau is not so perfect but we love her since La Boom. An easy entertainment, you must watch it! And then you'll know it's script by heart. PS: sorry for my "Hungarian English"
A real disaster
pat-797-86901515 November 2019
This movie is unbearable! Bebel is made tons and confuses "playing comedy" and clowning at circus. Therefore he trains all the other performers to play as badly as him, it is a real disaster. As usual when adapting a theatrical success to the screen, many outdoor scenes, as useless as they are stupid, are added so that the movie can be described as a "long movie". From the beginning of the movie, we're so horrified by such a turnip that we have only one idea in mind: to get the theatrical version with Jean Poiret to attend a real good show.
A great movie, a great comedian
magyarosicsaba29 January 2004
Belmondo is one of the greatest movie-actors all time. He is very good in drama, in action, and also in comedy. His character is always exciting and his charm climb down from the screen. I think, every man want to be a little bit Belmondo, and every women want to own a little bit Belmondo. Now, in this role, he is Stephan, the man, how loves woman. Loves his woman, his wife, but loves every beautiful girl all over the world. More girls, than day. But there is one rule: don't take home the chick.
Once, when his wife fly away, he violate the rule. Met Sophie Marceau, and take the beautiful young girl home. But before the action comes funny noise from the elevator. Belmondo: this is my wife, this is my wife, the elevator has a specific noise, when came my wife. And what can a man do, when there is a young girl in home, and the wife comes home. Belmondo: this is. this is. this is my. daughter. And here begin one of the funniest, greatest french comedy all time, with memorable moments. I offer this movie everyone, who want to laugh a lot. Great points, great Belmondo, sexy Marceau, sexy wife. Have fun!
Once, when his wife fly away, he violate the rule. Met Sophie Marceau, and take the beautiful young girl home. But before the action comes funny noise from the elevator. Belmondo: this is my wife, this is my wife, the elevator has a specific noise, when came my wife. And what can a man do, when there is a young girl in home, and the wife comes home. Belmondo: this is. this is. this is my. daughter. And here begin one of the funniest, greatest french comedy all time, with memorable moments. I offer this movie everyone, who want to laugh a lot. Great points, great Belmondo, sexy Marceau, sexy wife. Have fun!
The famous French sense of humour
Thorsten-Krings19 June 2007
Ah yes, the famous French sense of humour. It's starts with a speed boat going through a shed for no apparent reason at all and then double takes of that. Bebel acts like he is stepping in for the late Louis de Funes- hyperactive, nervous, over the top. The plot reads quite amusing- it's not. Again the whole film degenerates into a farce that has no plot whatsoever and whenever Lautner, normally a competent director, loses the plot completely he adds a car chase which does not make any sense whatsoever. A couple of jibes at Mitterand's government then even try to turn this turkey into a political satire. How funny- the socialist wears a red tie and talks like Lenin on acid. The only good thing about this film is the nubile Sophie Marceau who is frequently fairly naked.
good - (maybe) not only for Hungarians
vargabalas29 October 2006
I found it very interesting that almost only Hungarian people wrote reviews on this film.
About the film: IMO this is a typical French comedy, with lots of embarrassing and silly but funny situations and decent acting. Belmondo is in top form, the ladies are OK. If you like French comedies this is right up your street.
What makes this movie unforgettable for many of my fellow citizens is the extremely high quality of the Hungarian dubbing. I mean, I watched this film with the original sound and i have to tell you I didn't get half of the pleasure than watching it with the Hungarian voices.( In Hungary films on TV are usually dubbed and the standard of voice acting in the country was top notch for years. It's slowly declining nowadays, though, I'm afraid.)Many Hungarians know the entire script by heart and it's always a good party thing if you quote a line from this film. To us it's just fun.
Like I said earlier this might not be your cup of tea. However, just for the laughs you can watch it on a day when there's not much to do(I wish I had more of them). It's impossible not to -at least- smiley on the lovely character played by Belmondo.
About the film: IMO this is a typical French comedy, with lots of embarrassing and silly but funny situations and decent acting. Belmondo is in top form, the ladies are OK. If you like French comedies this is right up your street.
What makes this movie unforgettable for many of my fellow citizens is the extremely high quality of the Hungarian dubbing. I mean, I watched this film with the original sound and i have to tell you I didn't get half of the pleasure than watching it with the Hungarian voices.( In Hungary films on TV are usually dubbed and the standard of voice acting in the country was top notch for years. It's slowly declining nowadays, though, I'm afraid.)Many Hungarians know the entire script by heart and it's always a good party thing if you quote a line from this film. To us it's just fun.
Like I said earlier this might not be your cup of tea. However, just for the laughs you can watch it on a day when there's not much to do(I wish I had more of them). It's impossible not to -at least- smiley on the lovely character played by Belmondo.
A "must" for (at least Hungarian) Easter time
chessmasta12 December 2007
Similarly to my fellow citizen, I also find it rather peculiar, that out of six comments on this film, four (and from now on five) have been written by Hungarians. It is also strange to see, that the other two reviewers (from Germany) claim that this movie is rubbish. It would be really fascinating to read a french viewer's opinion, since that is the original language of "Joyeuses Paques". So should someone from France, who also has seen the film read these lines, please impart your impressions. The fact that there is such a gap between the German and Hungarian opinions, gives rise to much controversy. Is this a good film or a bad one? Is this really one of the funniest roles of Belmondo (according to the Hungarian view), or is his acting merely barnstorming (according to the German view)? First and foremost I have to admit that I, as a Hungarian utterly enjoy the movie every time I see it. I have to watch it every Easter time, and as it was mentioned by others people really know some lines by heart from this film. My family is rolling with laughter whenever this piece of art is on TV. I bought it on DVD this spring, and we've seen it about five times since then. Belmondo is brilliant. When I first read the German reviews, I thought they were writing about another movie. Although I have to agree, that the scene with the boat in the beginning is ridiculous, the dialogues compensate for mistakes like that. Every sentence is a comedy treasure in this film. I started to think when I realized the huge chasm between the two nations' opinions. Is it possible that in Hungary we generally have such a "jerkish" :-) sense of humor that we laugh at things which normal people find pitiful and ridiculous? Or is it the Germans who don't have a sense of humor at all? None of these statements can be true, and I also find it impossible that there could be such a large cultural difference between the two nations. Having considered most aspects of this "mystery", I have to agree that the key must be the Hungarian dubbing. The Hungarian script is extremely witty (translated by Pataricza Eszter who is one of our best movie translators). Sztankay István (who was dubbing Bébel in this film) is by far the best Hungarian voice for Belmondo (apart from Garas Dezső, who was his voice in Le Professionnel). Sztankay in the Hungarian version is over-the-top, killer-diller, über-funny. The seductive sexy tone of Almási Éva accompanying the acting of Marie Laforět is beyond comprehension, and the young Götz Anna is also charming as the young Sophie Marceau. So if you don't like this film, just watch it in Hungarian... :-D
P.S.: I am really looking forward to reading some french comments on this movie, so come on French, hurry up and write a few lines.
P.S.: I am really looking forward to reading some french comments on this movie, so come on French, hurry up and write a few lines.
What a great performance...
bzoli7431 August 2006
What a great performance! I wonder why some people don't like this movie. OK, it's rather silly and unreal(?), but there are several silly movies all around the world especially in the USA. This was made in Europe. It's not an awful German film that was made for awful German teens...It's a French COMEDY(!!!!!) was made for healthy European human beings! (My grandparents were Germans, and I'm Hungarian, so I have opinion about French:-))), so this is NOT a political sentence!) So, don't miss this movie if you'd like to see a really enjoyable comedy. I think, the European style in comedy with Belmondo's acting never dies! It's entertaining and unforgettable. For everybody. Only a few actors can play this role so perfectly like Belmondo does. Don't miss it!
Classic "Stage Like" Comedy
air-arabia1 May 2012
The movie feels like a stage play at times. It is witty, funny and has great moments, (and a few disappointing scenes too). Overall great fun and a welcome break from Belmondo's "policier"/adventure comedies of the 70's and 80's.
This movie can be watched over and over again. All the actors play well with slight overacting with results in the "stage play feeling" together with the relatively few different sets.
The speed boat sequence in the opening of the film seems a bit weird and should be ignored.
Anyway highly recommended comedy from French Grounds.
Belmondo is and will always be a great actor.
This movie can be watched over and over again. All the actors play well with slight overacting with results in the "stage play feeling" together with the relatively few different sets.
The speed boat sequence in the opening of the film seems a bit weird and should be ignored.
Anyway highly recommended comedy from French Grounds.
Belmondo is and will always be a great actor.
One of Bebel's top 3 movies
karelf-257-6221324 January 2012
This movie is a comedy classic, which I've loved since I was kid. I remember going to the cinema and then waiting every year to watch this on television (before VHS/DVD was available). The plot is perfect, the dialogs are sharp and brilliant, and the movie is funny right from the beginning to the end. No matter there are shots plainly to show Bebel's commitment for doing stunts on his own, which are not related directly to the movie. Bebel is at his best shape (gestures, overacting in specific moments), Sophie in her teenage is both talented and bloody gorgeous and the overall result is mood improvement by 100 % every time I watch it. I do of course understand not everyone must necessarily like this movie (German audience perhaps :), but I totally share the enthusiasm of Hungarian colleagues. This movie belongs to my top 3 Bebel's movies together with L'animal and Le magnifique.
Joyeuses Pâques - Belmondo tries his hand at comedy
eightylicious10 April 2022
In the 80's, Jean-Paul Belmondo was the main French action hero. Most of his films were big-budget adventures, with him fighting everyone, from the Germans in "L'as des as" (1982), to mafia criminals in "Le marginal" (1983). While these films have their charm (especially "L'as des as" is both hilarious and sweet), it is in comedy that he really shone. In 1984, wanting a change from his frequent action films, he collaborated with director Georges Lautner in "Joyeuses Pâques", an amazing comedy of manners.
Belmondo plays Stéphane Margelle, a wealthy industrialist who lives the perfect life; he has a loving wife, Sophie (Marie Laforêt) and a well-paid job. He has only one flaw; he is a womaniser. Every time he leaves for a business trip, he seduces a charming woman. And so, when his wife leaves for vacation without him, he seizes the opportunity to invite a young woman named Julie, (Sophie Marceau) who has been dumped from her boyfriend on Easter day, in his house. Of course, luck is not on his side, and Sophie comes back uninvited. Now, Stéphane has to find an excuse to justify Julie's presence. So, he says that she is his dear daughter, who, by the way, is pregnant. So starts Stéphane's web of lies, that grows even bigger, until a surprise visitor in a party turns everything upside down.
While the premise is already promising, the performances are the ones that differentiate the film from all other such comedies. Belmondo interprets Margelle with such intensity and theatricality that he becomes a pleasure to watch, only for his exaggerated reactions to everything his wife says. Laforêt, on the other hand, is pretty relatable in her way of trying to keep some logic in this mad situation, and her interactions with both her husband and her alleged step-daughter have a delightful mixture of sweetness and irony. As for Sophie Marceau, she serves as an excellent combination of the two others' characters, being both relatively reserved - or rather embarrassed with the situation she has been trapped in - and sentimental, especially in her confrontations with her "father". This was one of the films she made after being released from her contract with Gaumont, willing to cement her image as a serious actress. While she never really succeeded in that extent, her performance here was charming and showed a different aspect of her acting abilities, a far cry from the innocent teenager she had played just two years before.
The supporting cast is also excellent. Long-time Belmondo collaborator Michel Beaune is an oxymoron by himself as the communist businessman, who hates Margelle for his capitalistic nature but is the head of the company in which the latter works, and Rosy Varte as the surprise visitor provides possibly the most laughs in the film with her almost preposterous behaviour.
Lautner, who had previously collaborated with Belmondo in "Le professionnel" (1981) directed "Joyeuses Pâques" at just the right pace for it to be watchable without becoming tedious. For all the verbal comedy, a car chase at the end of the film shows that both for Lautner and Belmondo, some action, even light-hearted, was inescapable.
For many viewers, it was this movie that was inescapable. Millions flocked to see it when it came out, showing that a collaboration of the old and the new generation of French actors was not only desirable, but also successful when taking place. So, shy not sit and enjoy "Joyeuses Pâques", or better, watch it with a friend? It is surely a great way to wish "Happy Easter".
Belmondo plays Stéphane Margelle, a wealthy industrialist who lives the perfect life; he has a loving wife, Sophie (Marie Laforêt) and a well-paid job. He has only one flaw; he is a womaniser. Every time he leaves for a business trip, he seduces a charming woman. And so, when his wife leaves for vacation without him, he seizes the opportunity to invite a young woman named Julie, (Sophie Marceau) who has been dumped from her boyfriend on Easter day, in his house. Of course, luck is not on his side, and Sophie comes back uninvited. Now, Stéphane has to find an excuse to justify Julie's presence. So, he says that she is his dear daughter, who, by the way, is pregnant. So starts Stéphane's web of lies, that grows even bigger, until a surprise visitor in a party turns everything upside down.
While the premise is already promising, the performances are the ones that differentiate the film from all other such comedies. Belmondo interprets Margelle with such intensity and theatricality that he becomes a pleasure to watch, only for his exaggerated reactions to everything his wife says. Laforêt, on the other hand, is pretty relatable in her way of trying to keep some logic in this mad situation, and her interactions with both her husband and her alleged step-daughter have a delightful mixture of sweetness and irony. As for Sophie Marceau, she serves as an excellent combination of the two others' characters, being both relatively reserved - or rather embarrassed with the situation she has been trapped in - and sentimental, especially in her confrontations with her "father". This was one of the films she made after being released from her contract with Gaumont, willing to cement her image as a serious actress. While she never really succeeded in that extent, her performance here was charming and showed a different aspect of her acting abilities, a far cry from the innocent teenager she had played just two years before.
The supporting cast is also excellent. Long-time Belmondo collaborator Michel Beaune is an oxymoron by himself as the communist businessman, who hates Margelle for his capitalistic nature but is the head of the company in which the latter works, and Rosy Varte as the surprise visitor provides possibly the most laughs in the film with her almost preposterous behaviour.
Lautner, who had previously collaborated with Belmondo in "Le professionnel" (1981) directed "Joyeuses Pâques" at just the right pace for it to be watchable without becoming tedious. For all the verbal comedy, a car chase at the end of the film shows that both for Lautner and Belmondo, some action, even light-hearted, was inescapable.
For many viewers, it was this movie that was inescapable. Millions flocked to see it when it came out, showing that a collaboration of the old and the new generation of French actors was not only desirable, but also successful when taking place. So, shy not sit and enjoy "Joyeuses Pâques", or better, watch it with a friend? It is surely a great way to wish "Happy Easter".
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