After he becomes a quadriplegic from a paragliding accident, an aristocrat hires a young man from the projects to be his caretaker.
Nakache and Toledano’s script has some problems in the third act, relying on predictable plotting in an attempt to trump up some very forced dramatic tension, but this is worth seeing for Cluzet and Sy; they are a great screen double-act, offering a believable relationship that’s funny and moving in all the right ways.
Nothing wrong with the turns by François Cluzet as the wheelchair-bound widower and comedian Omar Sy as the ex-prisoner from a tough Parisian banlieue. But did the script really have to perpetuate such crass racial stereotypes?
In its favour are excellent performances from Francois Cluzet and Omar Sy. Against: it tries too hard to be quirky.
This is not a film that will change the whole world, but one that just might charm it.
Enjoy it before the English language version comes out.
It's easy to see why this had been a colossal hit in France and caught the eye of Harvey Weinstein along the way: it's undemanding, heart-warming fodder with mass appeal. Sadly, it's also predictable and its big emotional beats are often harder to stomach than an overripe brie.
For once, the hype is justified. This is a charming, uplifting French drama – an irreverent, humorous take on disability, closely drawn from real-life.
It would take a film critic to rain on this parade, so here goes: it's a third-rate buddy movie that hardly understands its own condescension.
Too much fromage.
Veteran French star Francois Cluzet and award-winning comedian Omar Sy are both excellent and the chemistry between them really crackles.
It's slick and engaging, with a brace of lovable performances.
It's as slick as an oil spill, as sugary as an eclair, and many moviegoers will find it irresistible.
Defiantly frothy French comedy.
As Driss breaks many class conventions with his pragmatic outlook to caring for Philippe, Untouchable affirms itself as an exceptionally inspiring story of human friendship.
How did a French comedy about disability become a global hit?
Having the last laugh
Eric Toledano on Jim Sheridan
Edinburgh Filmhouse, Edinburgh from Friday September 28, 2012, until Thursday October 4, 2012. More info: www.filmhousecinema.com
Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow from Friday September 28, 2012, until Sunday September 30, 2012. More info: http://www.glasgowfilm.org/theatre/
General release. Check local listings for show times.
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