Les Amateurs (2003) - film review

J.P. and Christophe are two ordinary lads from an ordinary low-income housing estate in France.  Whilst J.P. has settled into a job as “general dog’s body” in a supermarket, Christophe drifts from one odd job to another.  Much to J.P.’s annoyance, Christophe has amorous designs on his sister, Malika, and Christophe isn’t all that pleased that J.P. has similar thoughts about his adopted cousin Maya.  As they pursue various stratagems to win over their respective sweethearts, the two friends find themselves caught up in a bank robbery.  Meanwhile J.P. starts to get some very peculiar treatment from his manager, who has become convinced he is his long lost son…

Les Amateurs – “The Likely Lads” French-style – is director Martin Valente’s first full-length film, an adaptation of his earlier short film, Ta Soeur (2001).  Despite Valente’s attempt to cram far too much into one film (a common failing amongst film directors when making the transition from shorts to features), this makes enjoyable viewing and delivers more than a few genuinely funny moments.  Jalil Lespert and Lorànt Deutsch star as the film’s central characters, two equally hopeless seducers of the opposite sex who make a loveable and highly effective double act.  Interestingly, this is Lespert’s first comic role and the actor carries it off admirably, proving that, having established himself as a straight actor of no mean calibre, he also has a talent for comedy.

© James Travers 2006

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