Signes extérieurs de richesse (1983) - film review

Jean-Jacques Lestrade is one of Paris’s most sought-after veterinary surgeons, and his success allows him to enjoy the highlife – which comprises expensive cars, a lavish apartment, luxury holidays and a greedy ex-wife.  Unfortunately, his playboy lifestyle is paid for largely by wilful tax evasion.  A somewhat overzealous tax inspector, Béatrice Flamand, is about to bring his world crashing down…

A top-notch cast makes this lacklustre comedy more appealing than it deserves to be - although it’s pretty obvious that the film doesn’t get even close to exploiting the comic potential of its subject.  The story takes a while to get moving after a far from promising start, but the jokes are worth waiting for when (like an order in a busy Parisian restaurant) they finally arrive.  The film’s weaknesses stem mainly from its script - too many subplots, too many clichéed characters, and an uncertainty as to whether this is meant to be a farce or romantic comedy.  Fortunately, the acting makes up for this – Claude Brasseur, Josiane Balasko and Jean-Pierre Marielle are all on fine form and together they prevent the plodding narrative from drying up.

© James Travers 2007

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