As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

While it is a pity that the story wasn't told with more visual finesse, this is trivial compared to our real-world problems. It takes a good movie to put that into perspective.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Imagine poor Jacques-Alain Marty, one of the most powerful men in France, the head of a conglomerate involved in high finances. The mogul, who owns an empire of companies and employees, has a problem: a speech impediment that makes him stutter when speaking in public, or to his board. Nobody can make a thing of what he is talking about. The speaking problem makes Jacques-Alain perspire profusely. His body odor is offensive to anyone coming in contact with the powerful man.Referred to a psychiatrist, Jacques-Alain is told he must find an antidote to his problem by reflecting on his childhood. A trauma must be causing his malady. During an annual report, Jacques-Alain discovers the presence of Andre Morin, a man who likes to play the market, going to all the presentations from the companies where he is a shareholder. Marty discovers Andre seems to be a natural antidote to his problem.That is the basic premise for this film directed by Vincent De Brus, a comedy about the world of high finances and the juxtaposition of two men from different worlds. The film is only mildly funny because the screenplay written by Jacques and Eric Besnard, and Arnaud Lemont does not go anywhere. The contrast between the men, one from a moneyed world, and a factory worker who loves to deal in the market, does not have the punch one expected.Christian Clavier makes an impression with his Jacques-Alain Marty, the man suffering from stuttering and body odor. The late Jacques Villeret's Andre Morin is not as funny in the finished product, as it might have suggested the written page. M. Villeret, who died so young was a good comedian and one cannot imagine what went on during shooting, but he is a sad loss for the French cinema. His last film does not do justice to his comedic talents.

JAM (Christian Clavier), a French "master of the universe" is on the brink of a major takeover when he starts suffering from anxiety attacks. His doctor (Lhermite) thinks it is to do with childhood experiences and suggests he searches back in his mind to something that could be the trigger and will prove to be the antidote. Enter André Morin (the late, great Jacques Villeret) reprising his role of the amiable "con" (idiot) who proves wiser than everyone. Morin is a smalltime accountant who has become a champion of the little man – the small shareholders who are taken for granted by today's business leaders more interested in power and wealth. It is a real clash of cultures and provides plenty of laughs.JAM is obviously inspired by ill-stared Jean-Marie Messier (J2M), former head of Vivendi entertainment. JAM's company is the similarly bland sounding Valdis. Without giving anything away the story obviously owes something to Citizen Kane. There is a interesting opening title sequence, which suggests more thriller than comedy and some good special effects for the Rosebud moment. If you loved Le Diner des Cons you will enjoy this movie.