Do you like Wodehouse's Jeeves? Yes? Then this film will match your preferences.
In essence, Saturnin is Jeeves-type butler - but in one way more ingenious, in another one more brutal. He simply likes to be a perfect butler - like Jeeves - but he also does not forget to entertain himself and acts according to his own hierarchy of values and logic. And, aside liking his job, he loves the other people to face strange, bizarre, or just unusual situations. But all his actions are carried in the top class butler manners and all his efforts serve interests of his employer. Saturnin's dream order is - to get unusual orders.
The film builds on an atmosphere of the thirties of the past century; the pre-war prosperity and high-middle class environment seems essential for the film to work well. Also, knowledge of the pre-war manners in Europe helps to really enjoy some of the wits.
This film would deserve higher marks by two points but the production was low-cost and you can notice it. The overlap with the TV series helps neither. It is a pity. Also, some of the well-know novel scenes could be transposed more elegantly.
To sum up - you might not like the movie as much as the book, which is, according to me, superior, but it definitely worths seeing (especially when you feel you need gentle humor to cheer yourself up).
