Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great Movie, BUT ..., December 29, 2006
1st this particular DVD DOES NOT HAVE ENGLISH SUBTITLES, so unless you speak fluent French, you probably will not enjoy this particular DVD because of that. The best thing about this movie is that it is full of very intelligent but subtle jokes, so if you don't fully understand the language, you probably won't get them.
2nd this DVD is formatted for Europe, so if you don't have the proper DVD player, the frames will skip.
Finally, I 1st saw this movie about 20 years ago. I rented it (probably on VHS video tape), and it had English subtitles. From what I remember the movie was hilarious, and I liked it so much that I watched it twice in two days - I don't think I've ever done that with any other movie.
In Dec 2006 I received this DVD as a gift. The person who bought it for me didn't realize that it didn't have subtitles. The frame skipping wasn't too bad, but I couldn't enjoy it because, unfortunately, I don't speak French. :(
If it had subtitles, and it were in the format for North America, I would probably give it 5 Stars.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
A perfectly executed buddy picture (but in French only), August 12, 2007
"Les Ripoux" does not break any new ground. In fact, it abounds in cliches. The virtue of this brilliant French comedy is not to be found in its innovation but in its perfection. Actors Philippe Noiret, Thierry Lhermitte, Régine, Grace De Capitani and director Claude Zidi take the moves right out of the standard playbook and execute them with exquisite grace and precision.
Noiret serves as the heart of the film. Not since W. C. Fields has such an unmitigated reprobate been so hilariously portrayed. He is not only a bent cop living the down-at-the-heels good life on the cuff, in his shaggy, baggy-eyed way, he is the Cary Grant of bent cops living the down-at-the-heels good life on the cuff.
The film deals with the fate of Noiret's raffish, crooked, Parisian Eden when a serpent enters into it. The serpent is a young, intense and, alas, deplorably honest cop who becomes Noiret's new partner.
The best parts of the film are the sly attempts of the older man, who makes it a point of honor not to arrest anybody, to corrupt the youthful straight arrow. The third act of the movie is by turns a bit too melodramatic and than too sentimental, but that is of no consequence. What you will remember is the continually evolving relationship of the two men.
They are skillfully aided by the presence of two fine actresses, Régine and Grace di Capitani as courtesans--in the best sense of the word--at differing stages of their respective careers.
This is a genuine winner. Why it has not been issued in DVD form for North America is a mystery to me.
This particular DVD issue conforms to the European standard and makes no provision for non-French speakers.
Five stars, but of course, for the film, less two for the lack of a decent North American version.
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0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
a classic, superior, November 7, 2008
Hilarious comedy with superb actors, including the secondary characters, well cast. Might be a 4 1/2 to be frank but the warmth, fun of the cast, the language, all are superb. Dated by now (drug use, etc..) but a classic.
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DVD ~ Claude Zidi
DVD ~ Philippe Noiret
DVD ~ Gérard Depardieu
DVD ~ Thierry Lhermitte
