Tira ou Ladrão

The film is a succession of sketches by the comic Jean-Paul Belmondo. Jean-Paul Belmondo's sketches, based on ridiculous dialogues, are really a plastic pause in stand-up mode, with no point of view of the director.

What was Georges Lautner's job? A stage manager? A manager of Jean-Paul Belmondo's buddies? The manager of Jean-Paul Belmondo, a national star who surely had to do as he pleased. The star was at the height of his popularity and must surely have been difficult to manage.

The film is interesting to study as an object where there is obviously a lack of discernment of its creators at all levels. The film contains moments that are meant to be comical, but are appalling, for example the driving school sequence with Philippe Castelli. This one is useless in terms of narration and is only a gag. The dialogues are often inept. The script is confused and finally that's what's most interesting, because this confusion provides a bit of mystery, and makes the viewer wonder where this will take him.

The framing and photography are those of a TV movie: Derrick seems to be the reference (281 episodes of 60 minutes during 24 years, it is a reference...).

This is meant to be a comedy and a detective movie, it seems to be indeed, a bit of both, but not at all designed. The mixture of the genres is always dangerous.