On l’appelle catastrophe (1983)

On l’appelle catastrophe is a French film comedy first released in 1983, directed by Richard Balducci.  The film stars Michel Leeb, Darry Cowl, Michel Galabru and Carol Lixon.  Our overall rating for this film is: mediocre.


Whilst collecting his girlfriend from work one day, Antoine manages to get caught up in a bank robbery.  He is arrested and sent to jail, but is liberated by gangsters who mistake him for a crime boss.  On his way back to Paris, he manages to get on to the wrong plane and ends up heading for Africa.  His adventures have only just begun…

This lowbrow family comedy would have greater appeal were it not for its frequent bouts of inane silliness.  Michel Leeb may not have the charisma of Jean-Paul Belmondo but he appears to be well-suited for this kind of strip-cartoon-style farce (if you overlook the embarrassing doggy impressions).  Most of the jokes backfire but there are a few moments of inspired comedy, although it has to be said that some of the humour is, by today’s standards, horribly politically incorrect (if not downright racist).


© James Travers 2006

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