Le Dîner de cons

1998 Director Francis Veber

Francis Veber wrote and directed this film adaptation of his own play. In 1993, he cast Jacques Villeret in the role of the idiot onstage for 600 performances of a 27 month run, and the play also had a 1994 London production.

The film is about a cruel competition among a group of friends to see who can find the stupidest person to bring to dinner. The dinners are held each Wednesday night, and French publisher Pierre Brochant has found a world class idiot, tax accountant Francois Pignon who uses matchsticks to build small-scale replicas of monuments. Things quickly go awry after Pierre wrenches his back at golf. He nevertheless makes an effort to attend the dinner with his prize. Francois arrives at Pierre's luxury apartment, but Pierre is in such pain they never exit the apartment for the dinner. Instead, Pierre is trapped in a situation where Francois' stupidity turns his life into a comic hell.

This film is french comedy at its very best and never tires with revisits. The expressions and reactions of the luckless pair coupled with exquisite comic timing make this a must see.