By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3 cats
Director: Patrice Leconte
Starring: Daniel Auteuil | Dany Boon | Julie Gayet
Original language title: Mon meilleur ami
Country: france
Year: 2007
Running time: 94
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0778784/
Bruce says: “During a business dinner with other successful antique dealers, the subject of friendship comes up when François Coste (Daniel Auteuil) asks his business partner Catherine (Julie Gayet) the name of the attractive woman at the other end of the table. When he learns the woman is Catherine’s girlfriend he says, ‘I had no idea you like women.’ ‘How could you?’ Catherine tells François. Not once in their professional relationship has he ever asked her a personal question. Stunned by accusations from all around the table that he has no friends, François places a bet with Catherine. He bets a rare Greek vase, which he has just purchased at auction at a ridiculously high price, that he can produce his best friend within ten days.
“François, of course, is clueless about friendship and love. His sphere of interest consists only of material things. There is an ex-wife, a daughter Louise (Julie) who François does not understand, and a mistress, Julia (Élisabeth Bourgine) who is occasionally convenient. François relates to men even less successfully than he does his women. First François makes a short list of candidates. A montage of futile attempts to identify a candidate to be his best friend is amusing. In the course of his wandering about Paris, he gets in a cab driven by Bruno (Dany Boon), a lonely man who is overqualified for his job. Bruno endlessly spouts facts as they drive around Paris; he is a master of the trivial. Bruno has a bad case of nerves which prevents his indulging in more demanding activities and he dreams of being a quiz show contestant. Catherine, by coincidence, has Bruno’s business card and, when François call for a taxi several days later, their paths cross once again. François mistakes Bruno’s loneliness for affability and hires him to be a friendship consultant.
“The calendar pages are turning rapidly and the deadline for the bet is rapidly approaching. Bruno is giving François assignments for making friends, to not much avail. Louise is having medical problems and her father does not know how to help other than send her to fancy society doctors. Bruno takes one look at Louise and gives her the advice she needs. Bruno’s sincerity is unmistakable and it finally occurs to François that the best shot for his best friend may be right under his nose. Eager to cement the friendship, Bruno agrees to commit a theft as proof on his part. When he realizes that he has been duped, he smashes the Greek vase in front of all those who were at the dinner where the bet was placed. Later, Bruno gets a chance on ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’ and he must call a friend to get the answer to fthe €1 million question. After not speaking for one year, he calls François.
“Patirce Leconte, whom I hold in the highest regard, does not get his usually high score with MY BEST FRIEND. This film displays its moral on its sleeve. Its success lies on the shoulders of Dany Boon who displays Bruno with an irresistible vulnerability. Sad to say, Daniel Auteuil is wearing a bit thin in comedic roles, particularly after seeing him recently in the unnecessary comedy, THE VALET. There is an unfortunate trend in making comedies that are larger than life. Often, the best comedies delve into the everday life of the average man to reveal how amusing life can be on its most rudimentary level. At its best, MY BEST FRIEND illustrates how similar maintaining a friendship is to continually rekindling the flames of passion in a love affair. Both are never ending tasks. 3 cats”