BootDigest Such a frustrating disappointment

Stometer Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

Donald Seymour This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

DAW-8 I'm sick and tired of French 'sex comedies' which for their humor really on tired stereotypes that are 'just jokes' for white, middle-class, straight Frenchies. This film is just one more example. Not only does it use a false 'reverse racism' storyline--that a minority will otherwise be kept in a job he is not qualified for--they also make light of some pretty serious contemporary anti-gay sentiments and actions, such as violent attacks. I don't like all of the stereotypes here that I have seen in so many French movies and comedies--the working-class homophobic buffoons, the not-very pretty secretary (as contrasted with the sexy one) who helps move the film forward. Maybe the fact that this film honestly was not that funny, even if you disregard the 'jokes', doesn't help.

R. Ignacio Litardo "It's the eyes of the beholder". Yes, sure, but does it matter? François Pignon seems to be able to do nothing well in life. Until, by an accident of fate, and a bright neighbour, formerly an enterprise psychologist, they find out how to avoid the bad news, get to know who's who in his family and work colleagues, and get the reins of his own life, which seemed to be a robot's.Michel Aumont is a fantastic actor, so natural it makes you tremble. Without him, the film just wouldn't exist. Yes, Auteuil is also fine as a likable looser. When he "squints like a gay", he really does something ... unusual. Like on a Rorschach test, it just takes an ambiguous image for us viewers to project who we really are. The envious co worker, the racist macho, the brainy one who plays with other people's feelings like if they were chess pieces, the bright beautiful competitive blonde which rightly suspects from the start, the boss who wields power but just doesn't want trouble, the bright African who also has mixed feelings about the white majority, his stunning but sour & selfish ex wife, their aloof frivolous teenager, in short, the human comedy. Balzac would be proud.Pignon, like his neighbour's kitten, is probably too grey to be distinguishable from most people we know. If there's something reassuring in this comedy that takes place at a fake condom factory is that we could all change. If only ...Veber, director of "The dinner game" and of lesser works, is at his best here. While stereotypes abound, they are probably forced upon us to make the "clockwork orange" of gags work relentlessly. At that it succeeds admirably.Pure enjoyment!PS: Kudos to the nicest kittens I've seen on a film :).

blanche-2 Daniel Auteuil comes of it "Le Placard" (The Closet), or so everyone thinks, in this 2001 French film directed by Francis Veber and also starring Gerard Depardieu, Michele Laroque, Michel Aumont, and Thierry Lhermitte. When Francois Pignon (Auteuil) learns that he is about to be fired, his neighbor Belone (Aumont) suggests that he come out as gay. Then the company won't dare fire him. Belone photoshops some photos that show Pignon being fondled in a gay bar. Pignon, a rather colorless man, keeps his job, and in the process, learns who he is and what he wants.A truly lovely film, but some of the gay jokes, language, and attitudes related to homosexuality are really offensive. This, though, is part of the story, mostly involving a cruel co-worker, Santini (Depardieu) who thinks he has to be nice to Pignon in order to keep his job. In reality, his buddies are just having fun with him. It leads to Santini becoming very conflicted and depressed.The relationship between Pignon and his gay neighbor, Aumont, is very poignant.This isn't a laugh out loud movie for the most part - it's a very light, warm film that's very satisfying. Good viewing.

Gordon-11 This film is about a man trying to hang on to his job by pretending to be homosexual. Another colleague has to please him in order to avoid being viewed as homophobic.I watched this film a few years ago and I was thoroughly entertained. I watched it again recently, and I was still entertained. It takes the meaning of a satire to another level. It successfully creates a great comedy out of political correctness. What I find the most funny is that Félix is persuaded to please François all the time. The pink shirt scene is hilarious! Apart from the hilarious satirical plot, it also points out something important. It reminds us that people lost their jobs solely on the basis of their sexual orientation even in rather recent times. This film is a great piece of work. It is funny, entertaining and it spreads a message too.