Not being familiar with the French Wave comedies, such as this one, a wild comedy directed by Louis Malle, I didn't know what to expect of ZAZIE DANS LE METRO. PHILIPPE NOIRET is the unfortunate uncle in charge of taking care of a girl while her mother has other plans.
The Gallic humor is not only zany, it's also a bit on the puerile side. A little boy with a sign on him that says "Secondhand" is on display at a flea market. Little "Zazie" with the bawdy sense of humor and an adult's use of cuss words is funny at first but becomes tiresome by the time the story winds on and on about her wanting to escape from her "funny" uncle. The sight gags involving the girl running through a marketplace are enough to conjure up images of the French laughing at Jerry Lewis...for no good reason.
Malle throws in every possible prop for laughs, including fast-motion photography but the total effect is wearying.
Paris is a lovely city but it sure has its share of run-down interiors judging from the hotel settings and the residence of PHILLIPE NOIRET as the exasperated uncle. Interesting to note that Paris traffic was a huge headache even back in 1960. All of it is photographed in color with a style that's a cross between Charlie Chaplin's Keystone Cops comedies and the art of Jerry Lewis.
The uncle, it turns out, dances in drag in a nightclub but to bring in any more plot at this point is as senseless as the film, which tries hard to be charming in a Gallic way--but never quite makes it.
This one is strictly a matter of the viewer's taste. Some will love it, others won't even get through the first half-hour.
"I've had it with that brat!" cries a cabbie after spending time with Zazie. Me too.
The Gallic humor is not only zany, it's also a bit on the puerile side. A little boy with a sign on him that says "Secondhand" is on display at a flea market. Little "Zazie" with the bawdy sense of humor and an adult's use of cuss words is funny at first but becomes tiresome by the time the story winds on and on about her wanting to escape from her "funny" uncle. The sight gags involving the girl running through a marketplace are enough to conjure up images of the French laughing at Jerry Lewis...for no good reason.
Malle throws in every possible prop for laughs, including fast-motion photography but the total effect is wearying.
Paris is a lovely city but it sure has its share of run-down interiors judging from the hotel settings and the residence of PHILLIPE NOIRET as the exasperated uncle. Interesting to note that Paris traffic was a huge headache even back in 1960. All of it is photographed in color with a style that's a cross between Charlie Chaplin's Keystone Cops comedies and the art of Jerry Lewis.
The uncle, it turns out, dances in drag in a nightclub but to bring in any more plot at this point is as senseless as the film, which tries hard to be charming in a Gallic way--but never quite makes it.
This one is strictly a matter of the viewer's taste. Some will love it, others won't even get through the first half-hour.
"I've had it with that brat!" cries a cabbie after spending time with Zazie. Me too.