Review of Micmacs (2009) by Cassandra W — 30 Mar 2010

When a video store clerk whose father was killed by a landmine is accidentally shot in the head, he sets about revenging himself upon the weapons maufacturers whom he holds responsible. There's a lot to admire about French culture; the cuisine, the literature, the chic fashions.

Their comedy however has been stuck in a public convenience since the 1920s. Unfortunately Jeunet's new film is very much in this tradition, which means Micmacs rather than being a sophisticated heist style exercise in wit in the mold of Ocean's Eleven or The Sting, it's more like a Road Runner cartoon acted out by a troupe of mimes.

The overall feel of the film reminded me a lot of Life Is Beautiful, a horribly misjudged marriage of juvenile humour and commentary on war and death. Jeunet's trademark visual invention although still evident takes a backseat to Vaudevillian gurning and falling over, and even a potentially clever conclusion is ruined because of his over used and rather patronizing here's-what's-happening-in-their-heads-because-the-audience-are-clearly-far-too-stupid-to-understand-it thought bubble device.

Clearly still an accomplished film visually by a skilled film maker, Micmacs failed miserably to entertain me because it's about as funny as...well, French comedy.