Buddy movies have a very distinct formula: Two people from totally different backgrounds are placed together due to circumstance, don’t necessarily click together at first, start to get along, have a falling out, then reunite with even stronger results. In that regard, The Intouchables - the French smash hit from 2011 - doesn’t exactly do anything too different. However, just because a movie ventures into mostly familiar territory doesn’t always mean it’s doomed to fail. It’s all about delivery. And in that respect, The Intouchables succeeds at making itself stand out from other buddy movies, and winds up being a charming, sweet little film that is absolutely deserving of its status as a crowd-pleaser.
Based on a true story, the film portrays the friendship of rich quadriplegic Philippe and his live-in caregiver Driss. The film opens in medias res with a great burst of energy, essentially tricking the audience into thinking what type of movie they’re about to watch. It starts with Philippe and Driss driving through the street, chased by the police, played over some very dramatic, opening music. After Philippe pretends to have a seizure, fooling the police into escorting the two to the hospital, the two friends share a good laugh at their prank and blast Earth, Wind and Fire’s iconic “September” all the way to the hospital over the opening credits. This sets the tone for the whole rest of the movie. Instead of something cloying and overly-sentimental, we’re instead presented with a buddy movie that is fun, light-hearted, and has a good sense of humor.
That’s not to say that the film isn’t exactly free of a lot of the familiar dramatic beats that go with the buddy movie genre. No, we still go through a lot of the same motions. Driss wasn’t exactly invested in getting the job as Philippe’s caregiver at first, and they don’t have the greatest relationship to start, and then Driss begins to learn what’s going on in Philippe’s life… you know the rest. While the plot is based on a true story and they can only change the actual story so much, it doesn’t exactly win any points in the “Most Original Plot” department, so you can essentially figure out the direction this movie’s going before it even truly takes off.
Yet, what makes The Intouchables different than other movies of the same genre is how it treats its characters. A big part about what can make a movie enjoyable is how well it can respect its characters, and this film definitely does both of its lead characters justice. Sure, both characters face their own particular hardships. Philippe is a lonely quadriplegic with no family of his own, outside of his adopted daughter. Driss is poor, living off welfare benefits, and has trouble supporting his family. Despite these grueling circumstances, neither character is truly defined by just these traits. While the movie addresses each character’s particular issues, it never tries to cram it all down the audience’s throat every waking moment. We’re never constantly guilted into feeling sorry for either of these characters.
The only reason we do feel any sort of empathy for either is due to the fact that they both have their own distinctive personalities outside of the conflicts both of them face. And that’s what makes The Intouchables work so well. Philippe may be confined to a wheelchair, but he’s not totally despondent. While he’s far from perfect, he still makes the most out of his terrible situation and tries to live his life with the cards he’s dealt, still showing his appreciation for the things he enjoys such as art and the opera. In fact, his whole reasoning for hiring Driss - who was clearly uninterested when he interviewed for the caregiver position - is due to the fact that Driss didn’t address him with such pity. He’s in a terrible situation, but he doesn’t want to be exactly defined by his disability.
The same goes for Driss. He’s in a poor living situation and has trouble supporting his family, but the main reason we like him is the fact that he still maintains his sense of humor. He jokes around a lot, and even at one point teases Philippe in a way that would almost be perceived as mean if it wasn’t for the fact they had a good relationship. He always has a quick little one-liner to rebut other characters’ remarks, and he always brings a high energy with him to the table. We feel bad for him because he still maintains a great sense of likability despite the circumstances around him. The fact that he has trouble supporting his family is not what defines him, and because he has other interesting features, that’s how we end up being invested in him.
Part of what makes both characters so irresistible as well is the fantastic lead performances by both actors. Francois Cluzet was a great choice to play Philippe. He plays a man who still feels a bit hopeful despite his circumstances, but he never comes off as too sugary sweet, nor does he try to be too manipulative when describing going through some of the film’s more serious moments. I personally have not seen anything else he has acted in, but I do know he has a long history of award-winning performances in French cinema prior to this movie. It’s clear he’s an actor who knows what he’s doing, as he portrays a type of character who could have easily been done wrong with such ease.
Omar Sy is also an absolute delight to see as Driss. Sy began his career as a comedian, and his skills clearly show through his portrayal, with a great sense of comedic timing in each of the little quips he makes. In a lot of the film’s lighter moments, he’s clearly having some fun with the role, with a smile that’s hard to resist. Both actors really get to play to their strengths, allowing them to have solid chemistry together that’s both fun and bittersweet.
The film's music score also plays a big part in why this works so well, and doesn’t fall into the usual buddy movie tropes. Rather than obviously sad, overly dramatic music that constantly plays throughout the movie, we’re instead treated to a different kind of soundtrack. While there is original music throughout the movie, it does make use of the music its two main characters listen to. Philippe listens to a lot of classical music, while Driss enjoys Earth, Wind, and Fire. The classical music is heard often during some of the film’s more serious moments, and give the film a more subdued, relaxed sort of feel so that it feels a bit more natural and realistic, rather than looking for someone to turn on the waterworks every couple of minutes. Meanwhile, the 70’s R&B legends are heard blasting through some of the film’s more light-hearted moments. They’re not constantly heard throughout the entire movie, but when they are heard, they serve as a reminder that while this deals with some serious subject matter, it can still maintain a huge sense of fun.
The Intouchables doesn’t break new ground in terms of a truly original story, but honestly, it doesn’t need to. The film finds a lot of strength in its two main characters, both of whom have a fun, charming energy about them that allows the audience to easily connect with them, and become truly invested in them. The movie never once tries to guilt or manipulate its audience into automatically feeling sorry for anyone, and instead delivers a fun, good-natured film that will truly warm one’s heart.
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