Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I didn't know a lot about this film heading into a sneak preview in Dallas last week, but left agog at this thrilling, fantastic piece of movie-making from co-directors Olivier Nakache and Éric Toledano. It's the best film experience - no, the best theater-going experience - I've had in well some time. I saw it with a keyed-up audience of Francophiles who had clearly heard the buzz and wanted to be there to see what has been called a 'cultural phenomenon' in Europe as it first hits US shores. Believe the hype. Nakache and Toledano have constructed their film as a Möbius Strip - starting near to the end in seat-gripping introduction as co-protagonists Driss (Omar Sy in a groundbreaking César-winning performance) and Philippe (François Cluzet - Tell No One) race a Maserati Quattroporte through the streets of late-night Paris. Earth, Wind and Fire's "September" never sounded so good. The directors then take us back to the start to show us how the two met. The film perfectly mixes comedy and poignancy. Sy - a gifted physical and verbal comedian - had our audience convulsed, at times, with laughter. The subject matter - dealing with quadriplegia - doesn't seem ripe for comedy, but the film conveys both Philippe's desire not to be pitied and Driss' guileless honesty. He simply treats Philippe as he would anyone else. He's never been trained to do anything different. I extend this entreaty to all mainstream movie-goers: lay down your prejudices and aversions to subtitled movies and see this film. Don't miss out. I'm sure Hollywood will re-make this film...and kill it. Please see this original version. No one will pull your man card. You will not be disappointed.