The Intouchables (2012)

The Intouchables was one of the most widely-seen foreign language films of this past year, being one of most successful, top-grossing movies to come out of France in 2012. It is an inspirational and somewhat racially-driven story that has, I’m sure, made it easy to praise all over the world. Omar Sy stars as Driss, a reckless, rule-breaking fellow who’s down on his luck, but relatively cheerful about it. Francois Cluzet co-stars as Philippe, a quadriplegic who hires Driss as his personal assistant because he likes the idea of being a little reckless for a change. Driss does indeed shake up the older man’s life and house, as they do such previously unthinkable things as parasailing and dating. They both make each other’s lives better by building on the friendship neither of them had before.

Written and directed by Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano, this is a movie that is warm and heartfelt. It is also, frankly, nothing special. It is not flashy or obvious in any way, evoking a simplicity that has probably been the main reason for its popularity. The film almost entirely builds around these two characters chatting and hanging out, and there could have easily been a temptation to divulge in low-brow humor and other tactics to more easily appeal to a young audience. As it is, these guys are likable and believable, because their performers have given them such clear definition and their writers have given them competent and logical words. Sy especially steals the show as the rowdy Driss, and he won the Cesar (French equivalent of the Academy Awards) for Best Actor a few months ago. He is a great and memorable character even though his actions are a little rough around the edges, sort of like the blotches of paint that he is so shocked to see sell as art in the film. The look on his face thirty seconds into his first opera is worth noting alone, but only truly works because of the calm amusement of Cluzet’s face beside him. They have similarly terrific chemistry throughout.

Finding criticism for a movie like The Intouchables is a tough job. I enjoyed it and think most people will. It didn’t blow me away or anything, but how could it? It makes no attempts to be deep and sentimental about its premise and is probably all the better for it. This material could have easily risen no higher than your standard sitcom, but it somehow reaches a peak of entertainment clarity. It is special for the very reason it isn’t anything special. It is a bit of a treat.

8/10