Olé! (2005) Reviews

• Spick and Spanish? Not really

  writers_reign2005-12-30

  First-time director has a reasonable track record as a writer with Life Is A Long Tranquil River and Tatie Danielle among her credits and I suppose she takes a decent stab at it but ultimately it's a disappointment. Trivia-buffs will note that director Bob Swaim (Le Balance) makes an appearance and when you're reduced to saying things like that you know you're in trouble. Gad Elmalah, who, incredibly, is a 'name' in France, plays the Spanish-born chauffeur to tycoon Francois Veber - a little too close to FranCIS Veber for comfort - Depardieu and the pair are not so much master-and-servant as buddies, as are their wives. Ramon's wife is also Spanish and has a yen to return to Spain so when he pretends not to understand English when driving a business acquaintance of Veber's to an appointment the man feels able to speak freely about stock-market activity and before you can say Dow Jones the chauffeur is rolling in the green stuff and has a villa in Spain. And that's about it. A few humorous moments, Sabine Azema with not much to do as Madame Veber but doing it professionally as you'd expect. Let's say pleasant and leave it at that.

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