Tais-toi! (2003) - film review

This is the story of Quentin, an empty headed buffoon whose ambition is to run a small bistro, and Ruby, a ruthless crook who will stop at nothing to avenge the death of his girlfriend.   After attempting a hold-up Quentin is arrested and sent to jail, where his talent for driving his fellow prisoners to distraction soon becomes apparent.  The prison governor places him in the same cell as Ruby, in the hope that this will force the latter to reveal where he stashed the money he stole before his arrest.  Quentin immediately sees Ruby as his best friend and has no other thought than to stick to him.  Having effected a breakout, Quentin and Ruby go on the run, pursued not just by the police, but also by Ruby’s former gangster associates.

Tais-toi is another entertaining comedy from Francis Veber, one which follows the tried and tested format of his earlier films – a mad-cap thriller narrative involving the improbable pairing of a hard man and a clown.   Anyone who is familiar with Veber’s work will get more than a sense of déjà-vu in watching this film – it seems to be a potpourri of many of the previous films he either scripted or directed, notably L’Emmerdeur (1973), La Chèvre (1981) and Les Fugitifs (1986).  (If you can’t ruthlessly plunder your own work, whose work can you ruthlessly plunder?)

Jean Reno and Gérard Depardieu make a surprisingly effective double-act, both actors having worked with Veber in earlier films.  As in Le Jaguar (1996), Reno plays the likeable hard man (the kind of role in which he excels), whilst Depardieu takes on the part of the insufferable comic sidekick, the role which was previously played by Pierre Richard in Veber’s films.  Although there’s nothing new in this film, Veber’s flair for comedy – both in his writing and his direction – makes it an enjoyable romp, proving that his inoffensive style of comedy will never go out of fashion.

© James Travers 2007

Write a review for this film...

It’s the only film that makes me laugh to tears every time I see it! Gerggana (Plovdiv, bulgaria)

What do you think of this film?