Dîner de cons, Le (1998)

User Rating:

7.6/10   

Director:

Francis Veber

Writer:

Francis Veber (written by)

Release Date:

25 June 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Each week, Pierre and his friends organize what is called as "un dîner de cons". Everyone brings the dumbest guy he could find as a guest...

Plot Keywords:

Dinner Party | Publishing | Dinner | Mistress | Paris

Awards:

5 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Thierry Lhermitte	...	Pierre Brochant
Jacques Villeret	...	François Pignon
Francis Huster	...	Juste Leblanc
Daniel Prévost	...	Lucien Cheval
Alexandra Vandernoot	...	Christine Brochant
Catherine Frot	...	Marlène Sasseur
Benoît Bellal	...	Host 1
Jacques Bleu	...	Host 3
Philippe Brigaud	...	Tanner (boomerang thrower)
Michel Caccia	...	Guest 1
Laurent Gendron	...	Guest 2
Mykhaël Georges-Schar	...	Host 2
Edgar Givry	...	Cordier
Pierre-Arnaud Juin	...	Boissonade
Daniel Martin	...	Messignac

Also Known As:

The Dinner Game (Canada: English title) (International: English title) (USA)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language.

Runtime:

80 min | Turkey:75 min (TV version)

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Chile:TE | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | New Zealand:M | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Evecquemont, Yvelines, France

Company:

Gaumont International

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [Francis Veber] [François Pignon]features a likeable idiot called François Pignon.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the beginning, the train has two locomotives, then with four, then back to two.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

Soundtrack:

Le temps ne fait rien à l'affaire

I do not Recall Last Time I Have Laughed This Way

The wealthy editor Pierre Brochant (Thierry Lhemitte) and his friends have a competition: every Wednesday, each one of them invites the dumbest jackass he can find for a dinner, where each one of the guests is invited to talk about himself as much as possible. Later, after the guests say goodbye, the group of friends makes fun and elects the more stupid and imbecile guest. Pierre invites François Pignon (Jacques Villeret), a man that works in the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and makes "maquettes" of matches to forget his beloved wife, who had went away with a friend of him two years ago, for the dinner. However, a tough pain in one vertebra of his spinal column does not allow Pierre to meet his friends for the game and he stays alone with solicitous, but clumsy and stupid François in his apartment. Every attempt of François helping Pierre goes wrong, becoming the night of Pierre a terrible nightmare.

"Le Diner de Cons" is a witty theatrical movie, practically set in the room of an apartment. However, on the contrary of what a reader may think, it is one of the best comedies I have ever seen, and I do not recall the last time I have laughed this way. The work of Jacques Villeret as an authentic jackass, with a stupid grin and trying to help Pierre, is amazing. The dialogs and situations are very intelligent and hilarious. I highly recommend this film, awarded with three "César" and two "Lumiere Award", for one of those days when the viewer is upset or stressed, for a perfect relaxation. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Jantar dos Malas" ("The Dinner of the Jackasses")