Après vous...

Après vous (2003), directed by Pierre Salvadori, has the same basic plot as Jean Renoir's Boudu Saved from Drowning (1932). In both films, someone saves the life of a person. This person then causes endless problems for the rescuer.

Daniel Auteuil (Antoine) is the senior waiter in an elegant restaurant in Paris. He's skilled and respected at work, and has a wonderful girlfriend named Christine (Marilyne Canto). Antoine has the misfortune of saving Louis (José Garcia) from death by suicide.

Louis is a loser in life and in romance. He has attempted suicide because of his rejection by the love of his life, Blanche (Sandrine Kiberlain).

All this takes place within the first ten minutes of the movie. The remainder of the film follows these four characters as they go down an amusing--but fairly predictable--road.

Certain things don't come together. For example, Blanche is considered the epitome of female virtues, but, other than her long, slender neck, I didn't see much that was attractive about her appearance or her personality.

The best scene in the film is that between Antoine and Louis' Grandmother. The late Andrée Tainsy was 92 (!) years old when she played this role.

This movie is not obnoxious, but it's far from a masterpiece. My suggestion--rent Boudu Saved from Drowning (Boudu Sauvé des Eaux) and watch how a master director handles a similar plot.