User reviews

Period dramas are not usually my thing to be perfectly honest and when I read that this movie may in fact be 'swashbuckling' I began to get very worried and hitherto horrifying suppressed memories of Johnny Depp pretending to be Keith Richards in a pirate hat came rushing back to me. So, it came as a great relief and surprise to discover that this film is not really swashbuckling in the least and features no characters pretending to be Bill Wyman while sporting a Bicorne hat. What it actually is, is in fact a rather successfully funny period comedy. The story basically boils down to a French army captain who goes off to war in Austria but neglects to subsequently send letters to his bride-to-be. This leads to her sister surreptitiously writing fake letters pretending to be him with ever-increasing lies and exaggerations. The problems start when this man returns as a vagabond after having deserted his regiment, leading to him adopting the fake heroic persona created for him by the sister, only increasing the tension between them as a consequence.

This one works in a large part on account of the acting performances from the two leads Jean Dujardin and Mélanie Laurent, who are both major French movie stars. Both of them are quite excellent and funny in their roles, with terrific chemistry. The script is definitely amusing and channels the early 19th century by way of 2018, where at one-point Laurent complains about a sexist comment with the line 'it isn't the Dark Ages, this is 1812!'. So, there is much great verbal interplay between the two leads but pleasingly, the film is not afraid to throw in the odd visual gag too, such as where Dujardin hilariously spits into a baby's carriage. Towards the end, there is an injection of morose realism with a well-acted dinner scene, where Dujardin for once details the true nature of his war experiences. But it has to be said, for the vast majority of the time, this one is very much for laughs. The beautiful period detail and costuming only adds a nice dose of colour and production value to proceedings too. But, the most important factor is that this is a very successfully engaging and funny bit of French comedy.

It's a nice amalgam of influences: the returned-from-the-dead officer is taken from Le colonel Chabert, the two sisters with contrasting personalities from Sense and Sensibility, and the domestic setup from any French historical film. Jean Dujardin is splendid as the fraudulent hero, Melanie Laurent is very adept as the conniving older sister Elisabeth, and Noemie Merlant is the fiery younger sister who first falls for Dujardin. I admit I was led to watch by Merlant's performance in Portrait of a Woman On Fire, an amazing turn.

Laurent Tirard is a capable director of comedy; he'd already done Moliere with Romain Duris, and the very funny Mensonges et trahisons et plus si affinites... I look forward to his next film.

Really light nice French romantic comedy with good acting. Nice evening for with your couple is guaranteed.

"Return of the Hero" is a Comedy movie in which we are in 1809, France where Captain Neuville is called to the front exactly after he asks her fiance to marry him. While time passes and Captain Neuville does not send any letters to his bride, her sister starts to write letters on his behalf to cheer her sister up. Everything changes when Captain Neuville reappears after returning from the war.

I liked this movie because I found it very funny and I believe that it had many hilarious scenes. The plot was not the best but worked just fine for this movie and the cast. I have to admit that the interpretations of Jean Dujardin's who played as Capitaine Charles-Grégoire Neuville and Mélanie Laurent's who played as Elisabeth Beaugrand were simply exceptional. The direction which was made by Laurent Tirard had some very interesting and funny moments such as when Jean Dujardin is returning from the war very dirty and accidentally spits on a passing baby. One thing that I did not like was the ending because I think that it was an unnecessary exaggeration and some scenes which were boring.

Finally, I have to say that "Return of the Hero" is an average movie with a few good moments and elements. I am sure that you will have a lot of fun either watching it alone or not and that's the main reason why I recommend it to everyone.

A nice comedy, quite uneven though but it brings its smiles and laughs! I choose a 7 over a 6 to reward the work behind it, as it did not choose the easy way and put a lot of effort to not repeat a recipe.

The Dujardin - Laurent duo is working well, maybe even a bit too much as it overwhelms the others ^^

At least, a good movie that I've seen from head to toe without a second of boreness, and with a stupid grin on my face. I'm tired of all those formated movies, where you know the end from the first image on, because it's so conventional and obvious, because you've seen it a thousand times already... Here, nothing of the sort. A funny story, a perfect interpretation, a cunning ending... No, really, it's been a long time since I had seen a movie that good. I'll see it again with pleasure !

For acting, twists, atmosphere, tension, dialogue and, not last, for opportunity for Jean Dujardin to use his character like a piece of clay , Le retour du heros is pure charming.

Indeed, the heart of film is the splendid performance of Melanie Laurent and the inspired use of beginning of french XIX century for a chain of letters, lies, eccentric stories and a pragmatic business around a not existent diamonds mine.

The story of a clever crook and naive victims, about some drops of Bovarism and a society finding the cure for boredom. And , sure, about a great hero serving, in impecable manner, his interests.

I am probably immune to this "hero". I have no idea what is supposed to be funny in this movie. I didn't even smile once.

Kept on watching only for N. Merlant and M. Laurent , wonderful actresses whom I saw being much better in other movies.

I wish I hadn't .

LE RETOUR DU HÉROS turned out far better than I had expected. Director Laurent Tirard is an unknown to me, but he does a competent job and the film generally flows, punctuated by some exceedingly funny moments, and others which reflect keen observation of human nature.

In addition, despite its palaces and smartly dressed people, the action and dialogue are firmly 21st Century. One of the highlights is the returning hero, played by Jean Dujardin, looking dirty and fallen from grace, accidentally spits on a passing baby. Dujardin, an Oscar winner with THE ARTIST, is in good form but it is Mélanie Laurent who steals the show with her intelligent eyes, beautiful face, and impeccably timed delivery, at times delightfully dry, at others quite ebullient.

The exaggerated accounts of Dujardin's "bravery," and the way Laurent lifts or deflates them, according to her interests, are a real pleasure to watch.

I think the film should have ended with the marriage, the last 5-10 mins are the weakest, but by then I felt I had had my money's worth. 8/10

Hilarious, stylish, French, quirky, it's a riot of laughs. Our hero is a total slimeball, but very likeable. A gem of a movie.

I haven't seen more original movie in a long time! it seems to me that no one can beat French cinematography when it comes to that. Most of their movies I have seen are quaint but very entertaining and this one is not an exception.

This is a parody set in the early 19th century with Jean Dujardin (Oscar winner) playing ignominious war deserter who finds himself very comfortable when surrounded with casual acquaintances who believe he is actually a war hero. And the reason why they believe that is rather peculiar and has to be kept a secret at all cost.

This is most I can tell you without ruining your experience. If you're in for a good laugh, entertaining narrative and pretty solid acting check it out with some friends.

Fresh, funny, entertaining, with a couple of twists you wouldn't expect. And the acting is good.

Humor, drama, good acting and a nice ending. For me, when a movie hits a high score on this items, i give 10 with no problem! Is not about to compare with other movies, instead, the movie reaches 10 in what it sets out to do. Relax and enjoy it!

I guess most of people have underrated this movie simply because they do not know much about Europe and France in particular. It is an ingenious French comedy with some of the best modern French actors and actresses.

Usually, period movies are either romance or action/adventure. I think it's the first time I watched a period comedy.

I liked it.

It's funny. There's a lot of verbal jousting, as is typical for French movies. I laughed a lot. The movie also deals with serious matters such as death and war but doesn't take itself too seriously. There are a few funny plot twists. The acting is excellent. The characters are likeable. I like that they're not all good or all bad, they're nuanced and capable of surprising us until the end.

A very nice little movie. Highly recommended. A little over the top sometimes, but hey, it's a comedy!

The film maintains a pointedly swift pace, and the first minutes of exposition are so brisk in establishing the foundation of the story and comedy to come - "the hero" returns before fifteen minutes have elapsed - that one risks whiplash. Yet Jean Dujardin is consistent and reliable, and I trust Mélanie Laurent and Noémie Merlant even more. And it absolutely must be said that filmmaker Laurent Tirard and co-writer Grégoire Vigneron immediately illustrate how wonderfully sharp a wit they possess, for the laughs come as quickly, heartily, and profusely as the dialogue. 'Le retour du héros' sagely splits the divide between more measured and restrained notes of comedy, reflecting the period setting, and more modern overt modern sensibilities including no small amount of raunchiness; some facets are a tad contrived, but only with the intent of fostering humor. And that intent is never not successful, for the dialogue is sharp, the characters are wild, the scenario and scene writing are outrageous, and the narrative that all this builds is tremendous fun from the very beginning to the very end. I absolutely love this!

Dujardin, Laurent, and Merlant have unquestionably proven their great skills as actors time and again, and the involvement of just one is enough to warrant my attention for any given feature. That all their irrepressible gifts - range, personality, subtlety, physicality, poise - are bent here toward the most silly and ridiculous comedy only makes me adore them each all the more. Of all the frivolities Dujardin has made this might actually be his best; Laurent and Merlant I'm more accustomed to seeing in dramas, or at least comedy-dramas, so to see them let loose here is plainly a blessing. Tirard and Vigneron's screenplay is a treasure; Tirard's direction is unfailing in squeezing every last preposterous drop out of the scenario and his actors, and in making this the vibrant blaze of joy that it is. True, there does come a point in the last act when the storytelling experiences a tonal shift of unexpected earnestness, yet so deft is imagination and capability of all involved that even those more sincere tinges are in turn carefully twisted to deliciously fun ends. If a variation in tone is the worst that can be said of 'Le retour du héros,' then I'd say it's done incredibly well for itself.

Meanwhile, in every other capacity this picture is altogether perfect. The costume design, hair, and makeup are as lovely as could be, matching exquisite production design, art direction, and filming locations to bring the early nineteenth century to vivid life. Guillaume Schiffman's cinematography and Yann Malcor's editing are equally keen; Mathieu Lamboley's score dances between themes that would be appropriate for an honest take on the same story, and themes that are cheeky and playful in keeping with the broad tenor. While the stars naturally stand out most, the supporting part is just as swell. And so on, and so on. The end result of so much obvious care, passion, and free-wheeling reverie is a movie that's terrifically entertaining, an unremitting delight like relatively few titles can claim. I fully anticipated enjoying this just based on the names attached, and still I'm so incredibly pleased at just how good and funny it is. Writing, acting, direction - in all regards it's simply excellent, and only ever shaped with a mind for wholehearted bluster.

As far as I'm concerned it's all but a must-see; I have a hard time thinking of anyone who wouldn't like this. My expectations have been exceeded, and I couldn't be happier: 'Le retour du héros' is a total blast, and it earns my highest, most enthusiastic recommendation!