Le Diner De Cons
1999
Every Wednesday night a few guys have a meal together. There is a game coupled with the meal: each one of them has to bring an "idiot". The game consists in making the idiots talk about their ideas and passions so that the hosts can have a good laugh. At the end they will choose the "idiot of the evening". One of the hosts has .. Read more
| Starring | Thierry Lhermitte, Jacques Villeret, Francis Huster, Daniel Prevost |
|---|---|
| Director | Francis Veber |
| Genres | Comedy, World Cinema |
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Critics' reviews (3)
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Despite frequently betraying its stage origins, writer/director Francis Veber's splutteringly funny farce — a box-office hit in France — is a model of snowball comedy. From the moment publisher Thierry Lhermitte agrees to exhibit matchstick model-maker Jacques Villeret at one of his clique's “idiot dinners”, his idyllic existence begins to fall apart as this balding bundle of good intentions dismantles his deceptions with devastating artlessness. Lhermitte is admirably selfless as the despicable straight man, but Villeret has fashioned a masterly creation: a buffoonish descendant of Stan Laurel, Inspector Clouseau and Norman Wisdom whose every word and gesture have catastrophic consequences. One can only wait in trepidation for the imminent American remake.
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Enjoyable, expertly constructed, cruel farce of misunderstandings in which a sophisticated man's life is unravelled by a well-meaning fool.
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Supercilious publisher Brochant (Lhermitte) needs a buffoon for his dining circle's 'idiot's dinner' party. Whoever... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
View all -
35 out of 42 people found this review helpful
One for the subtitle-haters
For those of you who can't bare the though of having to watch a foreign film, and having to 'concentrate' on the subtitles, then get this DVD out.
It's a simple, but very well written comedy. When the French do these films well, they blow Hollywood out of the water.
Go on, take a chance, read those subtitles, and see what you've been missing ! -
13 out of 13 people found this review helpful
A Lesson in Farce
Le Diner De Cons is a sublimely crafted farce which is both wickedly cruel and at times utterly ridiculous. However I must admit that having seen the English theatre adaptation (starring Nigel Havers and Ardal O'Hanlon), which was truly appalling, I approached it with apprehension.
However this version is vastly superior, due in the main to the superlative cast, in particular Jacques Villeret as Francois Pignon. Guarantee: this film will have you in stitches. -
12 out of 16 people found this review helpful
A chuckle a Minute!
A wonderfully funny film, that could do well being adapted for the stage. Jacques Villeret is hilarous and convincing in his supposedly 'idiot' role, whilst Thierry Lhermitte compliments the duos farce as the evenings events develop, their comic timing is side splitting and the twists and turns unimaginable. Thoroughly enjoyable throughout!
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Most recent members' reviews (2)
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Why did I bother?
Don't be fooled by the general rating, it is very poor. Only suitable perhaps as a play in a theatre.
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11 out of 17 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
An alien culture
I had trouble with this film right from the off. To me the basic premise of inviting a 'fool' round to dinner to make fun of him along with your more cultured and sophisticated friends seems reprehensible. I can only suppose this is a long standing French practice to show off their intellectual superiority over other more unfortunate souls. Perhaps I'm being too literal, but I couldn't raise a titter for the whole of this mercifully short film. Mon Dieu, quite terrible!
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35 out of 42 people found this review helpful
One for the subtitle-haters
For those of you who can't bare the though of having to watch a foreign film, and having to 'concentrate' on the subtitles, then get this DVD out.
It's a simple, but very well written comedy. When the French do these films well, they blow Hollywood out of the water.
Go on, take a chance, read those subtitles, and see what you've been missing ! -
13 out of 13 people found this review helpful
A Lesson in Farce
Le Diner De Cons is a sublimely crafted farce which is both wickedly cruel and at times utterly ridiculous. However I must admit that having seen the English theatre adaptation (starring Nigel Havers and Ardal O'Hanlon), which was truly appalling, I approached it with apprehension.
However this version is vastly superior, due in the main to the superlative cast, in particular Jacques Villeret as Francois Pignon. Guarantee: this film will have you in stitches. -
12 out of 16 people found this review helpful
A chuckle a Minute!
A wonderfully funny film, that could do well being adapted for the stage. Jacques Villeret is hilarous and convincing in his supposedly 'idiot' role, whilst Thierry Lhermitte compliments the duos farce as the evenings events develop, their comic timing is side splitting and the twists and turns unimaginable. Thoroughly enjoyable throughout!
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11 out of 14 people found this review helpful
EXCELLENT
Ok, I'm French then I may not be completely objective, but this film really rocks !!!! It is one of the 'must-see' French movie. AB-SO-LU-TE-LY !!
I highly recommend all of you to watch it, it is hilarous, but a very subtile humour that I hope will be well translated in English
Do not hesitate anymore and rent it now ! -
11 out of 17 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
An alien culture
I had trouble with this film right from the off. To me the basic premise of inviting a 'fool' round to dinner to make fun of him along with your more cultured and sophisticated friends seems reprehensible. I can only suppose this is a long standing French practice to show off their intellectual superiority over other more unfortunate souls. Perhaps I'm being too literal, but I couldn't raise a titter for the whole of this mercifully short film. Mon Dieu, quite terrible!
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7 out of 8 people found this review helpful
Terrible!!!!
What a horrible film! Whoever thought up the idea of this film must be a bit twisted and I guess without many friends! Don't waste your time, absolute rubbish and not a laugh in sight....
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8 out of 13 people found this review helpful
For the French mostly
I rented this because I enjoy French films generally and because it is a well-known classic.
Unfortunately, I thought the comedy was a bit oldschool. Either that or the humour is too specifically French. I switched it off after 1/2 an hour not having laughed once. -
8 out of 13 people found this review helpful
Disappointing
A slap-stick french comedy with little to reccommend.
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6 out of 6 people found this review helpful
uninspiring
this could have been a brilliant idea for a comedy, but it got side tracked, and was more like a stage play on film than a cinema experience.
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6 out of 8 people found this review helpful
Havent seen this for a whole but noticed there were no reviews
Get it out, its a fantastic French comedy in the best way. A group of friends have a tradition of dinners where they all invite an 'idiot' for their entertainment. you can guess who gets the best out of it in the end.
Critics' reviews (3)
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Despite frequently betraying its stage origins, writer/director Francis Veber's splutteringly funny farce — a box-office hit in France — is a model of snowball comedy. From the moment publisher Thierry Lhermitte agrees to exhibit matchstick model-maker Jacques Villeret at one of his clique's “idiot dinners”, his idyllic existence begins to fall apart as this balding bundle of good intentions dismantles his deceptions with devastating artlessness. Lhermitte is admirably selfless as the despicable straight man, but Villeret has fashioned a masterly creation: a buffoonish descendant of Stan Laurel, Inspector Clouseau and Norman Wisdom whose every word and gesture have catastrophic consequences. One can only wait in trepidation for the imminent American remake.
-
Enjoyable, expertly constructed, cruel farce of misunderstandings in which a sophisticated man's life is unravelled by a well-meaning fool.
-
Supercilious publisher Brochant (Lhermitte) needs a buffoon for his dining circle's 'idiot's dinner' party. Whoever... read more on Time Out
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Every Wednesday night a few guys have a meal together. There is a game coupled with the meal: each one of them has to bring an "idiot". The game consists in making the idiots talk about their ideas ... -
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