Le voyage à Paris

Paris: a city that has always fascinated people, particularly the ones who have never been there. This is the case of Daniel Dubosc, a modest check-out assistant on a toll motorway who still lives with his mother and he dreams of going to Paris at least once in his lifetime. One day, he takes himself in hand and decides to go to the "paradise city". As far as the accommodation is concerned, this is his cousin who puts him up. What he doesn't know is that Daniel is a past master in the art of sparking disasters off and there's one thing Daniel forgot to include in his plan however carefully prepared: complications. Indeed, they will make his way towards Paris harder.

The influence of the Podalydès brothers is very obvious in this light and nice movie: a clumsy and naive main character facing unexpected events that complicate the situations he finds himself in. Olivier Broche proposes a delightful performance of his role and there is a sustained attention for the minor roles who act colorful characters. Furthermore, a mischievous script full of funny and forceful ideas, none vulgarity, some unforeseen events, to-ings and fro-ings that make the spectator laugh, a rhythm that barely weakens, all the ingredients for a perfect comedy are there. It's only a pity that the script is sometimes predictable, beginning with Daniel's evolution. A naive and shy man at the beginning of the movie but his trip to Paris will enable him to gain enough self-confidence and independence to set him free from his mother's influence and to find love with Natalia.

Apart from this, you mustn't deny yourself a good thing and take advantage of this little and globally successful film.