Faites sauter la banque !

Compared to de Funès' other films, How to Rob a Bank is a comedy that is quite intimate in its conception and spatial limitations, in which the viewer witnesses how (misleadingly) easy it is to break into a bank vault. Despite the brisk premise, I found the film's comedic potential untapped, which is a real shame. The side-story with the relatives seemed to me quite unnecessary, while the scene with Jean Lefebvre could easily have been extended. (27/11/2020)

There's no chance that a viewer would change their view of the acting of Louis de Funès or French cinema of the first half of the 60s after watching this comedy. Essentially, it is a classic comedy of its time, which is only interesting in that it features the future big star Louis de Funès in the lead role. All the elements on which he built his success - wild gesticulation, choleric and chaotic behavior, the energy that emanates from his character - were already present here, and this is one of the films that brought him into the spotlight. As is typical for French films of this kind, the light theme is accompanied by a certain degree of social criticism presented in a comedic form. The runtime is decent, being only 85 minutes at a time when we were used to two to three-hour "masterpieces." Surprisingly, the writer managed to fit everything essential into this runtime. Rob a Bank is a comedy about how a family business can not only engage in trade but also tunnel a bank, and that a family that sticks together is the most important thing. Overall impression: 75%. (08/08/2009)