L’Opération Corned-Beef (1991)

L’Opération Corned-Beef is a French comedy thriller film first released in 1991, directed by Jean-Marie Poiré.  The film stars Christian Clavier, Jean Reno, Isabelle Renauld and Valérie Lemercier.  Our overall rating for this film is: mediocre.


Philippe Boulier, code name “Le Squale” is an agent in the French secret service.   He is recalled from South America to help dismantle an arms trafficking network in France, “Operation Corned Beef”.    Things start out simply enough – Boulier merely has to spy on the key suspect, the Colombian Zargas, at a consulate in Paris.  Then Jean-Jacques enters the frame – a naïve company psychologist, whose mistress just happens to be Boulier’s fiancé…

Jean-Marie Poiré’s madcap action comedy – an obvious homage to the Hollywood thriller spoof – is a fast-moving romp, but a little too silly for its own good.  The jokes are predictable, the plot chaotic and the characterisation weak – but there’s just about enough zip to hold the thing together and prevent a mass stampede towards the cinema exit.  The action stunts are surprisingly good, and include one or two very effective visual jokes.  The film’s two lead actors Christian Clavier and Jean Reno work well together and would go on to make a great double act in Jean-Marie Poiré’s subsequent film, the 1993 comedy classic Les Visiteurs.

© James Travers 2007

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