Iznogoud (2005)
Directed by Patrick Braoudé

Film Review

Patrick Braoudé's flair for zany, well-observed comedy seems to have given way to sloppy self-indulgence in recent years. After the disappointing Deuxième vie (2000), his latest directorial offering is this inept and painfully tedious adaptation of the well-known comic book stories by René Goscinny and Jean Tabary.  The film not only lacks the charm and humour of the original Iznogoud stories, it's also excessively silly (in a way that is irksome and vulgar rather than engaging) and completely lacking in merit in just about every department - except possibly set and costume design (which elevate kitsch to a fine art).

Within the first five minutes it's patently evident that the film (a grotesque pot pourri of pantomime, Bollywood and facile new wave comedy) is targeted exclusively at empty-headed, burger-chomping, alco-pop swigging adolescents who have no more discrimination for entertainment than they have for food and drink.   This is the cinematic equivalent of junk food - reconstituted tat, badly prepared, mildly toxic, and guaranteed to induce a serious bout of vomiting if consumed by anyone who is not inured to this kind of juvenile neurone-mutilating trash.

In one of his last roles before his untimely and greatly lamented death, Jacques Villeret makes a valiant but pretty well doomed attempt at dragging the production out of the festering abyss of mediocrity into which it seems to be well and truly super-glued.  His co-star, Michaël Youn, does nothing to endear himself to his audience; as ever, his complacent, insipid brand of comedy (which consists mainly of an endless spectacle of snarls and grimaces to camera) shows a breathtaking lack of talent and originality.  As for the rest - you wonder what gives them the right to parade in front of a camera and inflict this kind of gratuitous tedium on an unsuspecting audience.

François Truffaut once famously said there is no such thing as a bad film, only bad directors.  If there is one film that absolutely proves him wrong, this is it.  Patrick Braoudé is capable of much better than this, evidenced by his earlier films Neuf mois (1993) and Amour et confusions (1996).  Iznogoud is exactly what it says on the tin.  Is-no-good.  An equally appropriate title would have been: Bloudiy Ouhrfoul. - but that would probably have been a bit too subtle.

Film Synopsis

In a distant land, many centuries ago, the caliph Haroun El Poussah is loved by everyone except his grand vizir, the thoroughly despicable and insanely ambitious Iznogoud.  For years, this wicked vizir has resented the caliph and has plotted in secret to have him overthrown so that he might take his place.  Just what is it that makes the caliph so popular with the masses?  He is so sickeningly kind and forgiving.  He's not like a true leader should be!  A true leader should be cruel and detested, one under whose fearful reign the masses should tremble and prostrate themselves in abject humility like the grovelling worms that they are.  This is the kind of caliph Iznogoud would be - one who will crush his opponents and inflict on his subjects the most tyrannous regime the civilised world has ever known.  But first, he must find a way to get rid of the present caliph.  This is going to require some cunning - and then the fun can begin...!