Le Dner de Cons (1998) The Dinner Game

Directed by Francis Veber

Starring Jacques Villeret, Thierry Lhermitte

Adapted from a stage play, Le Dner de Cons is an extremely witty farce centered in a Paris apartment. 

Every so often a group of elitist snobby intellectuals hold a dinner party where they have to bring a guest. Unbeknown to their guests, each has been selected to be judged for their boorishness and idiocy. 

Pierre Brochant (Thierry Lhermitte) a book publisher believes he has a winner in Franois Pignon (Jacques Villeret) who makes models of famous landmarks from matchsticks and talks endlessly about them. Pierres plans go awry though when he strains his back on the day of the dinner and is trapped in his apartment with nobody but his idiot for company.

What follows is a wonderfully performed, timed to perfection comedy of errors, mistaken identities, and a great series of twists involving Pierres wife and an unfortunately eagle eyed tax inspector. 

There is absolutely nothing to fault in this supreme slice of farce as you are left to judge in the end, just which of this pair is truly the biggest idiot.

Perfect light entertainment with great central performances plus equally good secondary characters. Probably one of the finest farces youll ever see, tight and very well paced. In short, almost comedy perfection.

Cheers Trev.

BBFC rating 15

R2 dvd released by Pathe, good crisp transfer with unfortunately, a complete lack of extras.