Micmacs Review
RATING:
(3.5 STARS)
The best word I could use to describe “Micmacs†is delightful. A lovely little French comedy from Jean-Pierre Jeunet, director of “Amelie,†the film details a rag-tag bunch of homeless people who decide to take down two weapons corporations. Consistently hilarious, never too serious, this film will brighten your day and bring a huge smile to your face.
Bazil (Danny Boon) is an eccentric individual. He has suffered two traumas in his life: the death of his father as a result of stepping on a landmine and a freak accident which resulted in a bullet being permanently lodged in his head. The latter incident lost Bazil his home and job. However, he’s resourceful. He meets a band of fellow homeless people who take care of one another, and each is just as eccentric as Bazil.
There’s a contortionist, a measurement expert, and a human cannonball, among others. They all have specific (albeit strange) skills, which come in handy when Bazil comes across two weapons manufacturing companies. One of the companies made the landmine that killed his father; the other created the bullet inside his head. Bazil decides to exact his revenge on the two companies’ CEOs (Andre Dussollier and Nicolas Marie). With the help of his new friends, Bazil embarks on a strange, hilarious adventure against these two evil men.
“Micmacs†is the French word for shenanigans, which really is the perfect title for this film. After the characters and direction of the plot are introduced, the rest of the film progresses as a series of increasingly convoluted, but hilarious, pranks. Each character is given his or her moment to shine.
The acting is good, but on the whole, the performances are kind of irrelevant. The star of this film is the comedy. Still, Danny Boon does a great job. Bazil is an immensely likable character. He’s not really multi-dimensional, but he has a lot of heart, and you can’t help rooting for him to take down his nemeses.
The participation of Jeunet, whose direction in this film is very good, means “Micmacs†should see the light of day. “Amelie†is a beloved film, and this one is just as enjoyable (if not quite as good). If you are capable of suspending logic in the name of entertainment, this will be one of the most rewarding films you see this year. If not, it won’t likely be your cup of tea. I must lean toward the former because I adored this film and sincerely hope it gets the release and recognition it deserves.
