La Folie des grandeurs

The overwhelming majority of films relentlessly age, some faster, others slower, and I get the feeling that the comedies of the beloved Gérard Oury belong more to the former, and I usually give them three completely average stars when watching them again. While Delusions of Grandeur has also been affected by the ravages of time, I dare say that it is the only film that easily deserves four stars. It's not intellectual humor, but rather typical Louis de Funès-esque gags, faces, and furious gestures, straightforward jokes about the rich and powerful, and French folk humor. I would rather see Bourvil in the place of Yves Montand because Montand is more suited for dramatic roles, and this needed more clowning. Nevertheless, I genuinely laughed a few times and never felt any of the awkwardness that accompanies me when watching many comedies. Overall impression: 75%. (19/09/2012)

My favorite Funés film. I just like these scumbag characters and I always wanted to be a Sallust-type schemer. Louis is at the height of his creative powers in Delusions of Grandeur and it shows. In Montand, moreover, he has found the perfect partner, and so you should prepare yourself for some very, very crazy humor that rushes by at the rate of one hundred and seventy jokes per hour. In addition, Delusions of Grandeur boasts a great production design and perfect, at times almost western music. (13/04/2009)

Somehow the whole plot didn't work for me, just like it seems to me that I have seen too many movies in a short period of time, which leads to me seeing de Funès as a person who played mostly too similarly. It is part of his personality, but here it came across as quite annoying at times. There are good parts here, but I probably also have a problem with the historical concept. (29/01/2015)