Absolutely Fantastic

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

This is ultimately a movie about the very bad things that can happen when we don't address our unease, when we just try to brush it off, whether that's to fit in or to preserve our self-image.

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

A madcap comedy, clearly a vehicle for its star, the great Philippe Noiret, is set in the old Soviet Russia, still under the tight socialist control where thing were scarce and it was up to its citizen to find a way to make ends meet no matter what. Corruption was rampart as the people in the story clearly demonstrate. The premise being how Igor, the manager of a Moscow hotel is drawn to help his good for nothing brother- in-law who is trying to help a member of his family who ran afoul of the system by defending a Jewish man, going against the system.All is made to be fun under the fast paced direction of Jean-Marie Poire, who keeps things moving at a fantastic speed. The screenplay is credited to the other star of the film, the wonderful Christian Claiver, with Mr. Poire and Martin Lamotte. The tight reign of the KGB and its control over the Russian people is in full display as the agency and a party auditor come to haunt Igor for a situation he did not create.It is fun to watch Mr. Noiret in another stellar performance. He is mainly the best reason to watch the comedy. It has its own rewards as the action does not stop for a moment. Christian Clavier contributes to his own project as Yuri, the brother-in-law from hell. Marina Vlady makes an appearance as Igor's wife. Even Martin Lamotte, one of the team of writers makes an amazing turn as Boris, the party's auditor who acts as though he was Ninotchka in getting control on the excesses of these public figures.

This is a beautifully shot film with a french script that's human and personal, comical, ironic, subliminally absurd and slavic. Personal stories intertwine with a comic hotel plot to take care of a special guest, the party auditor. Purposes cross and the auditor is turned on his head.The film is often in natural light, preserving the feeling of the locations.