Le dîner de cons (1998)

Director:

Francis Veber

Writer:

Francis Veber (written by)

Release Date:

25 June 1999 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Each week, Pierre and his friends organize what is called as "un dîner de cons". Everyone brings the dumbest guy he could find as a guest...

Plot Keywords:

Dinner | Mistress | Infidelity | Model Builder | Snobbery

Awards:

5 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Thierry Lhermitte	...	Pierre Brochant
Jacques Villeret	...	François Pignon
Francis Huster	...	Juste Leblanc
Daniel Prévost	...	Lucien Cheval
Alexandra Vandernoot	...	Christine Brochant
Catherine Frot	...	Marlène Sasseur
Benoît Bellal	...	Host 1
Jacques Bleu	...	Host 3
Philippe Brigaud	...	Tanner (boomerang thrower)
Michel Caccia	...	Guest 1
Laurent Gendron	...	Guest 2
Mykhaël Georges-Schar	...	Host 2
Edgar Givry	...	Cordier
Pierre-Arnaud Juin	...	Boissonade
Daniel Martin	...	Messignac

Also Known As:

The Dinner Game (Canada: English title) (International: English title) (USA)
Le dîner de cons (UK)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language.

Runtime:

80 min | Turkey:75 min (TV version)

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Chile:TE | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | New Zealand:M | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Evecquemont, Yvelines, France

Company:

Gaumont

Trivia:

Director Trademark: [Francis Veber] [François Pignon]features a likeable idiot called François Pignon.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the beginning, the train has two locomotives, then with four, then back to two.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

Soundtrack:

Le temps ne fait rien à l'affaire

a great comedy held up by two great actors

Before this film was released in 1998, it was, originally, a play. This play was performed on stage in 1993 and had a huge success. Francis Weber felt like adapting his play (he was the author) for the screen and he had a good idea. The action takes place in a beautiful Parisian flat. Pierre Brochant (Thierry Lhermitte) lives there and each week, he and his friends take part in a special dinner: a "dîner de cons". They've got to invite someone silly and the one who has found the best dumb is the winner of the evening. Brochant has chosen François Pignon (Jacques Villeret) and before going to the dinner, Brochant has invited him in his flat. Then, in a few minutes, everything's wrong: his wife's leaving him, he's got a backache, he's got to face his mistress etc.... and Pignon is a bit responsible for this! There are two main types of comic in this film: on one hand the comic comes from the dialogues which are very funny with a lot of successful puns. Moreover they're never vulgar. On the other hand, the comic comes from the situation where Brochant is: not only has he got to face Pignon but he's got to face unexpected events like the arrival of a fiscal inspector (Daniel Prévost). Above all, the film is worth watching for its incredible main actors: Lhermitte who is the perfect hypocrite and Villeret who is full of goodwill and kindness in spite of its idiocy and its naivety (in 1999, he won the Oscar for the best actor in France and he deserved it). Moreover, the other actors are very well used, especially Francis Huster and Daniel Prévost who are both excellent. The only weaknesses of this film are the moment where Prévost comes in Brochant's flat and then the plot is resolved very laboriously. The other moment is when Pignon is calling Mrs Brochant to tell her his real thoughts about her husband: you've got a quite conventional dialogue. Nevertheless, if you want to have a good time, watch this comedy it's worth watching!