Movie Review - The Intouchables

The Intouchables (2012)

Starring François Cluzet, Omar Sy, Anne Le Ny, and Audrey Leurot

Directed by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano

The most successful French film (shot in French) in nearly two decades, The Intouchables is based on a true story of a wealthy white man named Philippe (François Cluzet) who becomes a quadriplegic after a horrible paragliding accident.  Needing someone to assist him with everyday activities like getting dressed, eating, and bathing, Philippe hires Driss (Omar Sy), a black man who only applied for the job in order to get a signature to continue to receive his welfare checks.  The two couldn't be more opposite -- Philippe lives in a mansion in the heart of Paris, Driss is an ex con recently released from prison -- but  in the tradition of films like The Blind Side and Driving Miss Daisy, these two very different people become good friends despite what society may think about the relationship.

The Intouchables is incredibly basic.  The simplicity of the whole thing coupled with the fact this is a dramedy has me shocked that this was so popular in France.  However, there is something that grabs you with this story and makes it quite compelling even though the whole thing isn't all that original.  Co-directors and screenwriters Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano weave just the right amounts of comedy and drama into the mix to have the film move along at a brisk pace and their efforts help to elevate the film beyond what it really is.

Despite that backhanded praise, the film truly succeeds thanks to the efforts of François Cluzet and Omar Sy both of whom capture your attention from their first moments onscreen.  There's an energy the two have both as individuals and as a duo that is rarely captured on film.  Like the best buddy comedies, Cluzet and Sy play off of each other incredibly well.  Both have a captivating presence and can easily switch between the humor and drama that their roles require of them.  Additionally, Anne Le Ny and Audrey Leurot give some nice performances, too, as two of Philippe's assistants, so the entire cast is a pleasure to watch.

There's no denying that The Intouchables is quite basic in terms of what it brings to the table, but not every movie has to reinvent the wheel.  With performances worthy of attention and a wonderful balance in tones, this one is absolutely worth a watch and a nice primer for those wary of watching foreign subtitled films.

The RyMickey Rating:  B+