Les bronzés 3: amis pour la vie (2006)

Director:

Patrice Leconte

Writers:

Josiane Balasko (writer)
Michel Blanc (writer)

Release Date:

1 February 2006 (Belgium)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot Keywords:

Male Thong Swimwear | F Cup | Hotel | Prune | Sequel To Cult Comedy

Awards:

1 win

Cast

George Aguilar	...	L'infirmier spa
Josiane Balasko	...	Nathalie Morin
Karine Belly	...	Maman fillette bateau
Elio Beretta	...	L'aide cuisinier
Michel Blanc	...	Jean-Claude Dus / 'Jessie la Mèche'
Marie-Anne Chazel	...	Gisèle 'Gigi' André
Beppe Chierici	...	Giuseppe, le capitaine (as Beppe Clerici)
Christian Clavier	...	Jérôme Tarayre
Ahmed Guedayia	...	Le groom muet
Arthur Jugnot	...	Benjamin Morin
Gérard Jugnot	...	Bernard Morin
Genti Kame	...	Le vigile hôtel
Doris Kunstmann	...	Mme Franken
Martin Lamotte	...	Augustin "Miguel" Weissmuller
Micaela Lanza	...	L'infirmière
Dominique Lavanant	...	Christiane Weissmuller
Laurent Letord	...	L'"erreur de fiancé"
Thierry Lhermitte	...	Robert "Popeye" Lespinasse
Serena Minaldi Reinaldi	...	L'esthéticienne spa (as Serena Reinaldi)
Bruno Moynot	...	Jambier
Caterina Murino	...	Elena
Ornella Muti	...	Graziella Sparaggi Lespinasse
François Nadin	...	Chauffeur navette
Eric Naggar	...	M. Guy
Victoria Obermayer	...	La fille dans la voiture
Coline Perruchon	...	La chanteuse
Étienne Perruchon	...	Le pianiste
Marc Rioufol	...	Le golfeur
Rinaldo Rocco	...	Le fiancé italien
Franco Trevisi	...	Professeur Cavani
Julia Truffaut	...	La réceptionniste
Luca Vellani	...	Le serveur dîner

Also Known As:

Friends Forever (USA) (festival title)

Runtime:

France:97 min

Country:

France

Language:

English | Italian | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | France:U

Filming Locations:

Hotel Cala di Volpe, Porto Cervo, Sardinia, Italy

Company:

Les Films Christian Fechner

Trivia:

Visa d'exploitation en France: #112631.

Movie Connections:

Follows Les bronzés (1978)

Soundtrack:

Baila Morena

exactly what the catch phrase says: the same in worse

My close relatives and friends know that Patrice Leconte has a prominent place in my straitjacket of favorite French filmmakers. I must profess that treasures like "Tandem" (1987), "le Mari De la Coiffeuse" (1990) or "l'Homme Du Train" (2002) were pure cinematographic delights in my eyes. But in counterpart, I don't go much for the "Bronzés" saga which is supposed to be a satirical mirror of the average Frenchman. I have always deemed it as vulgar, crass and it's really a shame that in France, for many French viewers, the name of Patrice Leconte remains associated with this cult series (for those who love it). There's so much to discover beyond it like the three gems aforementioned.

The first two chapters were shot in 1978 and in 1979. After that, a big proportion of viewers expected another installment. And so, Patrice Leconte and his gang of well-known French actors agreed to make a third episode. Of course, the whole crew was elated at the idea to work all together again like the good old days and I can understand(while not sharing it) the enthusiasm of many fans. "Les Bronzés 3: Amis pour la vie" was perhaps the most anticipated film of 2006.

I haven't got fond memories of the first two episodes and I won't warm to the series with this third one. My estimation about it is a juxtaposition of sketches hardly dovetailed without a true unifying thread. In the middle of the film, comes a two-bit subplot whose main function is filler. Some old clichés have been seen so many time before like Bernard Morin's son who announces to his father that he's gay and of course, his father isn't prepared to accept this. Most comical effects often fall flat and are rarely efficient.

Even Patrice Leconte's input in the project is absent and he doesn't seem to care about it. The actors give us their little acts but that's all. All in all, many fans of the first two films will be delighted to see these reunions and won't be hampered by the fact that the film isn't a model of cinematographic writing and this film by Patrice Leconte and his men is for them. But if some of them are curious to see what there is beyond this new trilogy (unless a fourth episode is on the way) in Leconte's filmography, I strongly advise them to watch the works I quoted in my first paragraph.