Après vous... (2003) Reviews

• A pleasant surprise.

  BillAZ712005-04-11

  I saw this at the Phoenix Film Festival, almost by accident. My first choice for the time slot was full, and this would end in time to see my next screening, so I grabbed a seat as the lights went down. A very pleasant surprise. I really enjoyed this movie, walking into it with out the slightest idea what it was about. While the premise may not have been 100% original (man helps man get back the girl... but falls for her himself), I thought it was very well done. We should all wish to have friends as dedicated as Antoine, and we can all relate to Louis at some point in our lives. While the movie may not have been hysterical, I found myself smiling or laughing most of the time. The end result wasn't completely unexpected, yet how they got there was a surprise to me, with the last gag being a nice touch. Definitely recommend this film. Not one you'll discus what it means for hours, but one you should enjoy while you are there.

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• The good Samaritan's good deeds backfire on him

  jotix1002005-06-25

  Antoine, the head waiter of Chez Jean, an upscale restaurant in Paris, chances upon a man that is preparing to hang himself from a tree, one night he is trying to meet his girlfriend by cutting across a park. Well, the only thing for him to do, since he is a good guy, is to go and save the man's life. In saving the man, Antoine goes into extremes in order to give this man, a second chance in life, but at the same time he is taking on much more than what he bargained for. Pierre Salvadori's comedy could be considered a black one, or at least, in that genre. Mr. Salvadori seems to be telling us to watch out for those people that will soak up all our energy and good will as they will never be able to repay us for the kindness we extended to them in their hour of need, or so it appears to be the case with this idiotic Louis, the man that Antoine saved. In the process of trying to do good, Antoine discovers that Louis had been dejected after his girlfriend, the beautiful Blanche, has told him to pack his things up because she's had it with him! That's the reason for his trying to do himself in. Antoine, is kindness personified. He is an atypical Parisian man with a heart of gold and deep pockets to help the nebbish Louis, who obviously doesn't seem to have a clue about what to do with his life. In the process Antoine falls in love for Blanche. On the last sequence of the film we see Blanche and Antoine being reunited at the Thai restaurant they like, and a suddenly normal Louis is outside, realizes that Antoine has stolen his woman, We see Antone's car demolished by Louis. In a touch of Gallic sophistication, the head waiter presents the couple a bottle of expensive champagne sent by Louis, so they can celebrate their love. Daniel Auteuil's Antoine is perfect. One of the best things we have seen this actor lately. Sandrine Kilberlain is an elegant Blanche. Jose Garcia is the goofy Louis. Marilyne Canto and Michele Moretti, are seen in minor roles. This is a comedy that Hollywood would probably try to re interpret in the not too distant future. It has the right elements, but remains basically a delicious French comedy that one hopes is not duplicated by the American cinema.

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• Gentle, Poignant Screwball Romantic Comedy

  noralee2005-06-20

  "Après vous..." is a gentle, screwball cross between "Cyrano" and "Down and Out in Beverly Hills," or, more accurately probably, its French progenitor "Boudu sauvé des eaux." Daniel Auteuil very expressively plays a much put upon Good Samaritan, whose life and identity get more and more entangled with the object of his personal philanthropy. While the employment and romantic lengths that he goes to in helping his hapless beneficiary, who shares some foibles with TV's Monk, stretch believability, he is very amusing and certainly the viewer gets as caught up as he is in the ensuing complications, even if they do seem a bit endless. One of its charms is that all the characters have saving graces. Unlike similar American movies, characters who are in the way of the inevitable are not shrill and the screenplay, co-written by director Pierre Salvadori, is not mean or condescending to them, as there is equal poignancy and laughter. There may be additional jokes about French restaurants and cuisine that lose something in the U.S. as this is almost as much a restaurant movie as "Dinner Rush" or "Big Night." The English subtitles, when they are not white on white, have poor grammar and spelling, including inconsistency of a character's name. The repeating amusing sounding pop tunes on the soundtrack seem to have some significance, but the lyrics are not translated.

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• Romantic Comedy in the True French Manner

  gradyharp2005-11-10

  It seems when it comes to romantic comedies the French have the corner on the market and technique. APRES VOUS is a bit of pastiche with a storyline that borders on absurd, but in the hands of director Pierre Salvadori it becomes not only an enjoyable farce, but also a tender little statement about compassion. Antoine (Daniel Anteuil) is the fastidious and ultra compassionate manager of a high-class restaurant who bends over backwards for his staff, his patrons, and anybody who crosses his path who appears needy. He ends up making his girlfriend Christine (Marilyne Canto) take second place to his humanitarian concerns and this puts a strain on his relationship. One evening in a rush to meet Christine he encounters Louis (José Garcia) who is in the process of hanging himself in the park, his desired finale to a life of frustration and loss of his girlfriend Blanche (Sandrine Kiberlain). Naturally Antoine rescues him, feeds him, even brings him home, all the while putting his life on hold to help Louis heal his wounds. Louis is most concerned about the loss of Blanche and Antoine immediately commits his efforts to find her, woo her back for Louis (including revealing Blanche's current boyfriend's infidelity) - but in the process there develops a mutual attraction between Antoine and Blanche! Antoine arranges for Louis to get a job at his restaurant despite Louis' depression and lack of training. Just when everything seems to be turning out for the best, Christine leaves Antoine, and the circumstances surrounding Antoine's salvage of Louis' life change and the ending is somewhat of a French twist! The acting is fine, the pacing is fine, the only problem is with the characters themselves: we soon tire of Antoine's absurd selflessness and Louis' nerdy helplessness and that hampers the identification with these characters. Other than that the film is a brisk, sweet little French farce that leaves you humming. Grady Harp

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• Boudu Saved from Drowning--21st Century Version

  Red-1252005-08-27

  Après vous (2003), directed by Pierre Salvadori, has the same basic plot as Jean Renoir's Boudu Saved from Drowning (1932). In both films, someone saves the life of a person. This person then causes endless problems for the rescuer. Daniel Auteuil (Antoine) is the senior waiter in an elegant restaurant in Paris. He's skilled and respected at work, and has a wonderful girlfriend named Christine (Marilyne Canto). Antoine has the misfortune of saving Louis (José Garcia) from death by suicide. Louis is a loser in life and in romance. He has attempted suicide because of his rejection by the love of his life, Blanche (Sandrine Kiberlain). All this takes place within the first ten minutes of the movie. The remainder of the film follows these four characters as they go down an amusing--but fairly predictable--road. Certain things don't come together. For example, Blanche is considered the epitome of female virtues, but, other than her long, slender neck, I didn't see much that was attractive about her appearance or her personality. The best scene in the film is that between Antoine and Louis' Grandmother. The late Andrée Tainsy was 92 (!) years old when she played this role. This movie is not obnoxious, but it's far from a masterpiece. My suggestion--rent Boudu Saved from Drowning (Boudu Sauvé des Eaux) and watch how a master director handles a similar plot.

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