Ruby & Quentin (2003)

not horrible nor great

Fantastic!

Beautiful, moving film.

.Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Another good movie by the French director and screen player Francis Veber, along with The Dinner Game for instance. The plot is well developed and with good pace, including both scenes of the couple Ruby and Quentin running away from the husband of Ruby's lover, who wants him dead. The characters are nicely interpreted as well, especially Quentin, a stupid and ball-busting burglar perfectly played by Gerard Depardieu. I enjoyed the many funny scenes like the various ones in which Quentin disturbs his prison inmates making them lose their temper and ending up with Quentin sending them to the infirmary. Another good one is when the couple change in women's clothes not to be recognized by their chasers.

Quentin is an amateur bank robber that has no clue as to the value of the money he demands; he cannot compute in his mind the value of Japanese yen, from a pound sterling. In fact, he is the bandit from hell, anyone's worst nightmare. Although not a complete idiot, Quentin's brain works like that of a child. His luck runs out when the police finds out and give chase. He finds refuge in a movie complex and the film he chooses is an animated feature targeted for children.Ruby, another Parisian criminal, makes the mistake of having an affair with Sandra, the wife of a powerful man, Vogel. She ends up dead, and the boss decides to go after the man that dared to double cross him. Ruby becomes a target for Vogel's revenge. Fortunately for him, the police gets to him first and he lands in jail. Ruby, who plays at being mute, is paired with Quentin, who up to that point has not been able to share his quarter with anyone.These two different characters team up in unexpected ways as they are made to share a cell in prison. Quentin, who is super kinetic, contrasts with the taciturn Ruby, a man that refuses to talk. With the help of a friend, Quentin and Ruby escape their confinement in a daring feat no one could imagine. Then, their troubles begin.Francis Veber, a man that has spent his career writing and directing comedies for the French cinema, has had some hits and his share of misfires. Hollywood has adapted some of his work successfully. This film falls in the middle, neither the success it was supposed to be, nor a failure either.A Gerard Depardieu sporting teased hair, has worked under M. Veber before. He shows up as Quintin, the naive man facing a hostile world. He never stops for a minute. In a way, the actor tires us because he makes us dizzy with his antics . Jean Reno, who can do comedy, is plays the straight man in the film. His performance is more restrained. As a team the actors have some good moments in this mildly funny film. The supporting cast includes Richard Berry, Andre Dussolier, Jean-Pierre Malo, the funny Ticky Holgado, and Leonor Varela in a dual role that does not make much sense.The film takes us all over Paris, as seen through Luciano Tovoli's camera. The musical score is by Marco Prince.

I saw this film when it premiered in the U.S. and have been waiting, waiting, waiting for it to get into distribution so I can see it again. Jean Reno and Gerard Depardieu are such an odd and wonderful pairing. I think only French actors and a French director could have done such an unlikely thing so well. These are two of the finest actors each in their own right; but they manage to put egos aside while coming up with odd little nuances that had me crying with laughter.Personally, I found it refreshing to see a story that I haven't seen a thousand times already and especially a comedy that does not rely on stale or embarrassing humor. Thumbs up for Francis Veber (Writer/Director) for an original and engaging film! The film is sophisticated, touching and endearing. I am genuinely surprised that it never hit the U.S. market.

That's another movie of great Francis Veber, the master of French comedy. After masterpieces like "La chèvre", "Le diner des cons" and "Le placard" Veber creates a new story, where two prisoners escape from jail. Veber's formula is always the same: putting together two people who have nothing in common, like a cat and a dog. From that we have many situations of misunderstandings.The film is fun, although not among the best Francis Veber works. The first part is great and lively, in the second one the movie loses some speed and the story is less exciting.Some moments are nevertheless memorable, for example all the prison scenes and the beginning of the friendship between Gérard Depardieu and Jean Reno. These situations are really hilarious!Depardieu and Reno are big actors and work well together. Dialogs, once again, are the main ingredient in Francis Veber style.Not a masterpiece, as I said, but enjoyable.