I'm so glad to have read all of the comments about this film because after reading about it winning awards, and getting high ratings from movie reviewers, I was beginning to think I was not very bright for not seeing any greatness in this film. Yes, it's amusing, but it's not funny. The only time I laughed out loud was near the first of the film when the dog under the table was snarling at the fish. That scene made me keep watching, but nothing else made me laugh.
In fact, I thought that the prank of the kids betting on whether folks would walk into the lamppost was so unbelievable that it was annoying. When the whistle of the kids was coming from the front, why would the person look behind to see where the whistle was coming from? It was so staged and unrealistic looking, and then for the woman to think Hulot was the prankster and to scold him was preposterous.
However, unlike one commentor here, I absolutely loved the French music! And yes, I thought of Keaton and Chaplin, but even more, I thought of Benny Hill. Speed up the music, make the gags funnier and faster, and you've got it!
Another thing I couldn't figure out is why did Tati keep showing us the junk collector and his horse? Or the guy sweeping the street? And I was completely lost with the lettuce (?) vendor.
Thanks again for the comments and a place to vent a little.
reply
share
coldnaps
9 years ago
The lamppost was kind of realistic; one needs a little suspension of disbelief. The junk collector was there, IMO, for a couple of reasons. First, Tati liked dogs and horses, so he tried to include them realistically if they fit the film. Second, the horse/collector represented part of the old Paris. Third, the ruined tubing was in the cart; a commentary that the factory turned out junk to a degree (remember the broken fountain due to a tube being punctured). The street sweeper and vegetable vendor were, again, symbols of old Paris on the surface, and perhaps a small commentary on life. Notice the street sweeper never actually picks anything up. He just sweeps it into a small pile, then gets distracted, much as people often do when they really should be doing something else.
reply
share
Owlwise (1536)
5 years ago
Tati's humor isn't laugh-out-loud humor, though. It's more subtle & understated, calling for a wry smile that acknowledges both the absurdity & the sadness of modern life.
reply
share