The Gendarme and the Extra-Terrestrials

Louis de Funes and company discover that a flying saucer has landed, and the alien can imitate humans almost perfectly, if you ignore minor details like drinking gasoline, shooting lasers from its eyes and sounding like a hollow metal drum. But then nobody is perfect.

Jacques Tati once said that if he wanted to, he could have made Hulot movies and wound up a millionaire. He offered some titles, including 'Hulot in St. Tropez'. A bunch of standard gags are included, including de Funes dressing up like a nun and riding a bicycle.

Actually all the films Louis de Funés participated are great. Especially the gendarme films. I watched this one last week an I am rather impressed. He and his partners played convincingly once again. It always makes lots of fun to watch them, particularly if Ludovic drives through the picturesque landscape of Saint Tropez.

Saint Tropez is like a dream. But not for the gendarms. This time an UFO is sighted by one of the gendarms. However, nobody believes him. Until Ludovic himself sees the UFO landing - and flying away at once. But nobody believes him as well. And then the first aliens come to Saint Tropez...

Well, the film is even a little creepy and eerie as I think. Perhaps I would have expected another end; the film ended a little sudden. But that's a matter of taste.

Odd as it may sound, I consider "Le Gendarme et les Extra-Terrestres" as one of movies that sparked my personal interest (read: obsession) with Sci-Fi & horror movies. That is bizarre because the movies of French comedy legend/genius Louis de Funès, and particularly the cycle of "The Gendarme" movies, are straightforward comedies revolving around silly characters and absurd situations. This entry (the fifth and one before last in the series) is a slapstick comedy too, but it was the only one in the series to also feature a couple of Sci-Fi elements.

With their textbook spacecraft, aliens land in St. Tropez and Marshall Ludovic Cruchot and his team of dimwit gendarmes are up against extraterrestrial perpetrators that can duplicate the exact looks, voices, and behavior of human beings. The alien enemies are nevertheless easy to recognize, though, as they make the sound of a hollow metal drum if you touch them, they drink motor oil, and the totally break apart when in contact with water.

Admittedly, in retrospect, the concept and especially the special effects are incredibly tacky, cheap, and borderline laughable. And yet, when I was 6-7 years old, and the movie got shown on television every couple of months, it simultaneously fascinated and frightened me! Notably the sight of an alien that, after the water of a broken aquarium poured over him, robotically stumbles over the beach and fully disintegrates, left quite a big impression on me. Of course, it primarily still is a comedy with all the regular de Funès trademarks, but it's a nostalgic and fun example of how non-horror and non-SciFi writers/directors interpret the alien invasion subgenre.

I saw this movie at the cinema back in the day, and I remember I was slightly disappointed then because there were no actual alien monsters, just humans making metallic noises and stiff movements. However, rewatching it today I'm impressed what a clever little movie this is. Going into a genre which is clearly beyond its budget, arming its heroes only with a bucket of water, it plays virtuously on the classic doppelganger theme. Again and again, aliens and their flying saucer appear, but who will believe the eyewitnesses that they are among us? Cruchot and his team on their 5th mission (of 6 in total) are fighting an amusing battle, dedicated to the max. The flick was definitely better than I remembered it.

The gendarme and the extra-terrestrials is a unique entry in the Gendarme series, blending comedy with a touch of science fiction. Louis de Funès returns as the beloved Sergeant Cruchot, and this time, he finds himself dealing with aliens who have landed in Saint-Tropez. The film takes a bold departure from the previous entries in the series, introducing a storyline that is both unexpected and hilariously executed.

De Funès is once again in top form, delivering a performance that is full of energy, wit, and physical comedy. The film's premise may be unusual, but it works thanks to its lighthearted tone and the charm of its lead actor. The special effects, while dated, add to the film's quirky appeal, and the humor is consistent throughout.

Overall, the gendarme and the extra-terrestrials is a fun and entertaining film that stands out for its originality and humor. It's a must-watch for fans of Louis de Funès and anyone looking for a comedy that's a little different. I give it an 8/10 for its creativity, humor, and the fantastic performance by de Funès.