Micmacs (2009)

Andrew's favourtie movie is Jean-Pierre Jeunet's excellent Amelié, and I have to say it's one of mine too. He's seen all of Jeunet's work, while I've watched A Very Long Engagement and, um, Alien: Resurrection. The former is great, the latter... not so much. So we both looked forward to Jeunet's newest film, Micmacs (or Micmacs à tire-larigot as it's called in France) which we caught a couple of weeks ago at Vue. 

Micmacs is a surreal comedy-cum-heist movie, a bit like a mix between Ocean's Eleven and Amelié, although there's no robbery, the group of misfits at the heart of the film are involved in an intricate plot to get revenge on a couple of (rival) arms manufacturers. The leader of the group is Bazil (Dany Boon), a dopey looking guy who gets shot in the head before the opening credits - in a very funny, typically-Jeunet scene, the doctors operating on Bazil flip a coin to decide whether to operate or not - with the result that Bazil retains the bullet in his brain and the prospect of it killing him looms over him. This is a curious plot device as it sparks the plot of revenge, but doesn't get utilised enough over the film to make much of an impression - once or twice when stressed Bazil recites some thought exercises to prevent his brain exploding, but these are explored enough. 

Bazil's contortionist friend is a curious and flexible character, and the other misfits are a bit hit and miss, but they're all a likable bunch. The two arms dealers at the centre of the revenge plot are deliciously evil and there ultimate come-uppance is satisfying. The movie overall is not as charming as Amelié, yet it still has laughs and looks fantastic. One of the funniest in-jokes are the scenes where Bazil's van drives past billboards that depict the scene itself. Micmacs is a sweetly surreal movie with an unexpected emotional heart and message about how Western arms deals impact on the developing world.