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Gad Elmaleh, Alice Taglioni, Daniel Auteuil, Kristin Scott Thomas, Richard Berry ... see more see more... , Virginie Ledoyen , Dany Boon , Michel Jonasz , Michel Aumont , Patrick Mille , Laurent Gamelon , Michèle Garcia , Karl Lagerfeld

French farce master Francis Veber (The Dinner Game) combines slapstick laughs with rapid-fire dialogue as he tells the tale of a Parisian valet unwittingly drawn into the affairs of a wealthy industri... read more read more...alist. François Pignon (Gad Elmaleh) is a simple valet employed by a posh Paris restaurant. Blissfully unaware of the paparazzi stalking powerful businessman Pierre Levasseur (Daniel Auteuil) and his stunning mistress, Elena (Alice Taglioni), the innocent passerby François wanders haphazardly into the frame. Realizing that the common man in the photograph may be Levasseur's only hope of avoiding a nasty divorce from his wife, Christine (Kristin Scott Thomas), Pierre's quick-thinking lawyer (Richard Berry) arranges for François to live with Elena in order to mislead the tabloids. Having just been dumped by childhood sweetheart Emilie (Virginie Ledoyen), François accepts the proposal, in the hopes he can win her back through jealousy. But Pierre's jealousy flares, Elena grows frustrated with her new digs, and Christine might know more than she's letting on. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

66% liked it

8,914 ratings

Critics

70% liked it

82 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 25 min.

Directed by: Francis Veber

Release Date: March 12, 2007

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DVD Release Date: September 18, 2007

Stats: 873 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (873)

  • itsjustme2004
    January 18, 2011
    itsjustme2004
    This is a quick, and airy film. The plot -a bumbling blockhead pays a valet to shack up with his mistress in order to fool his wife, while at the same time trying to convince the mistress he is getting divorced, This premise doesn't leave much to the imagination, but the dialogue... read more is lively. The supporting characters, including a doctor who coerces medical care from his patients, adds a real spark to what would otherwise be a conventional story. Cute, and entertaining.
  • RCCLBC
    May 29, 2008
    RCCLBC
    The cast is great, Paris is beautiful, the story is ammusing (if not trite at times).

    Gad Elmaleh is (once again) absolutely charming as Pignon, the down on his (romantic) luck valet and Kristen Scott Thomas is great as the wife of the philandering millionaire (Daniel Auteuil)... read more.

    Unfortunatley things just never seem to develope fully. I was almost expecting (when the screen went black) to see a "Insert Disc 2" message pop up, but instead the credits started rolling! We even scrolled through all of the credits, in the hopes that they would have one of those little "epilogue" clips that some films tag on to the end. But nothing.
  • mwilliams078
    March 30, 2008
    mwilliams078
    The Valet is such a funny foreign film. Kristin Scott Thomas whom was great in The English Patient co-stars in this comedy.

    A valet is caught in a taploid magazine beside a famous model whom is having an affair with a very wealthy man that is also in the picture. In order to ... read morenot get divorced the model and valet must con there way to prove they are a happy couple whom live together...it is too funny.
  • bbcfloridabound
    October 28, 2007
    bbcfloridabound
    A great movie, its in French with English subtitles, but a very funny movie. Alic Taglioni could become a favorite female actor real fast, I'm free for dinner. Worth the rent.
  • gator681
    May 23, 2007
    gator681
    [font=Century Gothic]In "The Valet", billionaire Pierre Levasseur(Daniel Auteuil) is in a bit of a pickle when he is photographed arguing with his supermodel mistress Elena Simonsen(Alice Taglioni) in the street. In order to save his marriage, his high-paying job and presumably ... read morehis manhood, he tells his wife, Christine(Kristin Scott Thomas), that Elena was really with the other man in the photograph, Francois Pignon(Gad Elmaleh), a valet, who has just had his marriage proposal turned down by Emilie(Virginie Ledoyen), owner of a struggling bookstore. Pierre takes his lie one step further by fabricating a relationship between Francois and Elena(while also putting them on the payroll) by having them be seen together in public and spending their nights together at Francois' place...[/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic]"The Valet" is a sharp satirical farce about status in society. After all, what is the most important to us: a flashy car, a supermodel girlfriend or being with the person we love? The movie is funny without being cruel or condescending, especially in that the valet is a true mensch while the billionaire is at the very least a weasel. Actually, all of the characters are very much three-dimensional. And admittedly, I did take a certain amount of pleasure in the cell phone salesman being sleazy...[/font]
    [font=Century Gothic][/font]
    [font=Century Gothic]Oh, yeah. Don't believe everything you read.[/font]
  • merillupin
    December 3, 2009
    merillupin
    So much fun! A lot of French comedies are almost too farcical for my liking, but La Doublure is just silly. The main characters are super likeable, and though it resolved a bit too quickly, it was generally very well-written and enjoyable.
  • fb1245361650
    May 28, 2008
    fb1245361650
    Quite funny... i bet they laughed themselves to the bank in France... anyway, this is a funny movie, but if you're looking for a plausible storyline and no strange side-tracks within that storyline, this is probably not your best bet.
  • juliryan
    January 20, 2012
    juliryan
    This is a relationship farce by master Francis Veber. A bit trite, but the plot just keeps getting more convoluted. Almost impossible not to be charmed by this. With Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient) and Virginie Ledoyen (The Beach).
  • Doctor0Quinzel
    February 6, 2009
    Doctor0Quinzel
    It was fun, but I didn't like the ending, he should have ended up with the other girl.
  • NoxInvictus
    August 28, 2011
    NoxInvictus
    A cute, light-hearted affair. Gad is so loveable, how could I not adore this film! Personally, I would've liked a different ending but really, it was fine the way it was. It's perfect if you want a good-mood film or a laugh. And if you like Gad Elmaleh, it's definitely recommended!

View All The Valet (La Doublure) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Roger Moore
June 20, 2007
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

It's not as outrageous or as hilarious as his best work, but it's still charming, even when it isn't finding the funnybone. Full Review

Kerry Lengel
May 25, 2007
Kerry Lengel, Arizona Republic

It's all empty calories, of course, but that's what French pastry -- not to mention popcorn -- is all about. Full Review

Hap Erstein
May 19, 2007
Hap Erstein, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Veber's script is masterfully constructed to increase the laughs as the scheme grows more and more convoluted. Full Review

Tom Long
May 18, 2007
Tom Long, Detroit News

Starts with a nice premise, but ends up fractured. Full Review

Terry Lawson
May 18, 2007
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Call it a sorbet, a soufflé or an amuse bouche, The Valet is a satisfying antidote to the overload and bombast that run rampant in American movies at this time of the year. Full Review

Richard Schickel
May 11, 2007
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine

A deft, daft, totally unbelievable yet somehow totally engaging comedy. Full Review

Steven Rea
May 11, 2007
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

You have the slightest of romps, and one that ends so abruptly that you suspect the prolific Veber had already moved on to his next project. Full Review

Ann Hornaday
May 10, 2007
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Everyone in The Valet is likable; the movie even manages to be somewhat subversive, as it posits the idea that supermodels are people, too. Not to mention smart, kind and down-to-earth people. Quelle ... Full Review

Andrew Sarris
May 9, 2007
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer

Francis Veber's The Valet, from his own screenplay, turns out to be a surprisingly satisfying Parisian screen farce. Full Review

Peter Howell
May 4, 2007
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Just enjoy it now as the exceedingly pleasant farce that it is. Full Review

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