What's Cooking in Paris

Halfway it goes from the setting of the title to becoming a car chase shootout action movie, this wiffs of them not having any more comedy to show and thinking this will be TOTALLY out of the box to wow audiences by doobydoobydooby tada, an action flick, WHOA. Yeaaaaah nooooo, either stick to the qualities of your own genre's characteristics to make it good, not just switchover to a different genre.

As a Funés fan, it's hard for me to pick the best ones, but this would definitely stand in my top ten! ...or say top fifteen. This time he is the chef of very exclusive Paris restaurant.

Choleric as ever, he wants everything to be in the right order or even better. Problems occur when president of one unnamed country gets kidnaped while having a dinner at Septim's. With police and gangsters behind his back he tries to find the missing head of state by himself. And obviously a lot of fun happens during this adventure.

Funés is gorgeous as always, very energetic with funny gesticulation. The plot is simple, but cleverly written with many surprising turnovers. And add in the fabulous scene where DS Citroen falls into Sienna river, continuing its ride as a boat and you get the great entertaining movie of comedy empire of those times! Step in, tastes fresh and makes you laugh after all these years:-)

A cult comedy is from my point of view, a movie in which you can't remember all the funny moments and therefore, you are always happy to discover them again and again.

So, there, I knew that De Funes was a terrible, tyrannic boss of a great restaurant but his manners eluded me while they are really funny! He's truly the best actor in this field and beyond, a very talented one. As Al (Pacino), I feel that De Funes exudes humanity, compassion and class behind all his jokes…

In addition, as it figures among the oldest movies I saw, it was great to see Paris an half-century ago. Besides cars and trends, I feel that Paris was more "green" with trees than actually.

Unfortunately, when the main thing is served, the script becomes strange: a mix between Bond for the aquatic car and the Pink Panther for the winter sequence… We are far away of the restaurant!

In conclusion, great appetizers but the menu left me wanting for more!

Another superb performance by 'Fufu', whose genius radiates throughout every scene, in a cult classic film, which dates back to an era when both French gastronomy and comedy were still at the height of what had made their greatness and their admiration all over the world.

9.9/10

In this Louis de Funes recital he is Monsieur Septime who runs his Paris resturant : Chez Septime in military style, controlling strictly his waiters and cooks. One day, receives a famous guest, a fatty president : Folco Lulli of a South American country. Things go wrong, when Septime becomes involved into a kidnapping.

Hilarious comedy with emotion, mayhem, pursuits, car crashes, entertainment and amusement. Louis de Funes steals the show with his extreme mimic and sympathy in a role that fits him as a glove as a greedy man who owns his renowned restaurant with iron fist. Louis de Funes vehicle, outstanding thanks to his sympathetic overacting, as he puts strange faces, gestures and excessive gesticulation. Here Louis plays a restaurant owner who runs manu military by controlling his workers here and there, even disguising himself, and when a guest is kidnapped, looks as if Septime has something to do with it. From his first characters as Devil and 10 Commandments, Captain Fracassa, La Vendetta, until his greatest hits as Don't look now we are being shot along with Bourvil, Fantomas Trilogy along with Jean Marais : Fantomas, Fantomas strikes again, Fantomas vs Scotland Yard to the Cadillac Man, Wing and the thigh and his final movie The mad adventures of Rabbi Jacob, Louis de Funes was a brilliant comedian. Although Funes really excels in Ludovic Cruchot series as Le Gendarme of Saint Tropez, Gendarme in Balade, Le Gendarme in N. Y. , Le Gendarme and creatures of outer space, and his last film feature : Le Gendarmes and the Gendarmettes. He is well accompanied by a good cast as Bernard Blier playing a stubborn commissario, the Italian Venantino Venantini and Folco Lulli as President Nogales who disappears when dining at Septime restaurant, furthermore, brief appearances as two waiters of Michael Modo and Guy Grosso, usual colleagues to Louis De Funes in Gendarme Saint-Tropez series.

Well produced by one of the best French producers, Alain Poire who financed other Funes outings . Including a lively and jolly musical score by Jean Marion. The motion picture was well directed by Jacques Besnard at his film debut. If you like Funes' overacting you'll enjoy this one.