Film Review: 'A Pain in the Ass'

No new take on bumbling farce...

> A Pain in the Ass

Director: Francis Veber

Cast: Richard Berry, Patrick Timsit, Pascal Elbe, Virginie Ledoyen, Laurent Paolini, Michel Aumont, Cedric Chevalme, Laurie Lefret

Rating: (M)

3 stars (out of 5)

Review by Mark Orton

In a similar vein to Judd Apatow's output, French director Francis Veber (The Dinner Game, The Valet) has crafted a body of work that seldom deviates from bumbling farce.

As the originator of 1973 play L'emmerdeur, on which A Pain in the Ass is based, Veber again illustrates how easy it is to generate laughs; just this time he resurrects the stencil that started it all.

With his conveyor-belt approach to film-making, Veber's strength lies in putting familiar characters with extremely expressive faces into barely believable scenarios. Indeed, Patrick Timsit makes yet another appearance, this time as a love-sick photographer (Francois Pignon) on the verge of suicide.

Checking into a hotel overlooking the courthouse in Montpellier, Pignon unwittingly becomes embroiled in a contract hit being planned by Jean Milan (Richard Berry) from the room next door.

Waiting to shoot a key witness in a gangland trial, Milan agrees to look after Pignon to avoid raising any suspicion with hotel staff. His steely exterior suggests it won't be long before he puts the annoying Pignon out of his misery, but Pignon has other plans.

For a suicidal wreck, he develops a strange resilience, while Berry's fortitude is tested with every farcical gag.

The success of this situation comedy rests on the viewer knowing more than the characters, and some amusing moments of sadistic black humour. Veber having penned the original, his reluctance to freshen up the scenario is puzzling.

Best thing: The performances - Berry and Timset are on top form as the unlikeliest of friends.

Worst thing: The ending. With all the work done to set up the characters, a little more of a twist would have been nice.

See it with: No knowledge of the original or the first remake, Buddy Buddy.