Genre: Comedy
Director: Roger Delattre
Cast: Jean-Marie Bigard, David Strajmayster
RunTime: 1 hr 30 mins
Released By: Golden Village
Rating: M18
Official Website: -

Opening Day: 6 May 2010 (Exclusively at Cinema Europa)

Synopsis:

After serving the last seven years in prison, Mario Diccara is finally free. However, Mario's enemies are still looking for him to settle some unfinished business. He calls on the one person he can trust, his brother Patrick who is a Catholic priest. Patrick suggests that he hides out in the small village of Ardeche in Father Etienne's parish. Mario agrees, and dons the robes to make the journey. But on arrival, the troubles start: Father Etienne has just passed away and the villagers assume Mario has come as his replacement.

Movie Review:

If you've always thought that French comedies have to be whimsical Audrey Tautou affairs, well this latest from notable comedian Jean-Marie Bigard will definitely have you thinking otherwise. Known for his rogue humour, Bigard has crafted an irreverent comedy with criminals, village bumpkins, Catholic priests, Muslim and even Jews. What are all these characters doing together? We're not really sure- but here's one thing we do, that wacky combination is actually fresh, funny and a whole lot of fun.

Bigard himself plays the convict Mario who on the day of his release after spending seven years in jail is met by two men in black suits. They want a share of the money from the jewels Mario stole before he was jailed. They think jail has softened him up. Not a chance, Mario headbutts the first of the two he sees and does the same for the other guy right at the end of their conversation- to be fair, he says. He also tells them they have already gotten their share- they didn't do the time in jail, did they?

If you, like this reviewer, knew nothing or what to expect of this movie before going into it, then this uproarious opening will surely delight you. Not only are Bigard's lines hilarious, his deadpan delivery of them complete with a stoic, almost scowling, expression on his line-drawn face only makes them even funnier. And so it is in this gleefully arid comedic manner that the movie breezes along, as Mario's brother Patrick, a Catholic priest, suggests that he disguise himself as a priest and seek refuge in a far-off mountainous town of Ardeche.

But upon Mario's arrival at the place he calls a "rat-hole", he realises that the local priest Father Etienne has just passed away and the villagers think he is Etienne's replacement. How is Mario going to live up to his role when he mistakes communion wafers for biscuits the first time he sees them in the sacristy in Patrick's church? Bigard's answer to that is to let loose the hijinks and all sorts of mischief at a breakneck pace, and the result is one rollickingly humorous ride.

To celebrate Father Etienne's funeral mass, Mario calls Patrick on his hands-free set and repeats wholesale what his brother says to his congregation- while Patrick is on a treasure hunt Mario sent him on to retrieve the jewels he hid- to predictably hilarious consequences. Then, when he finds out during confession that one of his female parishioner's cousins is physically abusing her, Mario quickly takes matters into his hands (literally) and roughs him up. And to keep regular Saturday confessions short, he limits his flock to one sin each.

Besides coming up with inventive ways by which Mario adapts to his new vocation, Bigard's script also introduces several interesting quirky supporting characters. There's the local policemen who love to haul Mario into the station just so they can have a drink together; then there's the local village bar girl who doesn't seem to think much of the vow of chastity that comes with the priesthood; and also Patrick himself who takes a detour in the film's third act to throw all caution, restraint and his priestly vows to the wind after getting hooked on the temptation of money.

First-time director Roger Delattre does a commendable job keeping the pace of the movie light and frothy, even as Bigard's script sputters a little towards the end. Most of the time though, Bigard's writing is sharp and witty, and irreverent though it may be at times, it is never disrespectful nor offensive. Bigard too deserves credit for his winning deadpan performance, a thoroughly droll and engaging one that more than proves his casting as a lead actor in his own script is more than an act of self-vanity. Indeed, a movie that's this much unrestrained fun is more than enough reason for you to shout "Hallelujah!" by the time the credits roll.

Movie Rating:

(This wild wacky comedy from French comedian Jean-Marie Bigard is a whole barrel of irreverent fun you won’t want to miss!)

Review by Gabriel Chong