MovieChat Forums > Les vacances de Monsieur Hulot (1954) Discussion > Must be something wrong with me. . .

Must be something wrong with me. . .

posted 9 years ago by aciolino
5 replies | jump to latest

I have tried for 20 years, to appreciate the humor that is said to exist in this film.
But I still I read with mouth agape, the numerous references here to all that is hilariously funny in this film. How is it I find it completely un-funny, and boring, simplistic in the extreme?

Oh! He got he shoe stuck to a small, dead animal and he doesn't see it! Wow!
Oh! He's hitting a tennis ball! Oh!
Oh, it's windy!
Maybe, back in Junior High I would have found these things funny. I doubt it. Kindergarten is more like it.

Seems to me that Tati belongs to the Jerry Lewis (later on, the Robin Williams) school of comedy, where all you have to do is act like a retarded fool, and people will think you're funny. (actually the French LOVE Lewis, don't they? Hmmmmm. . ..)

Tati is clearly a gifted, even brilliant physical clown, a mime of the first rank. His imitation of the London vs. French traffic directors I found on youtube is masterful AND FUNNY.

But this film gives me nothing. It is an utter bore.

What am I missing?

Help.

Thank you.

[–] SmoothHector 9 years ago

Why would you force yourself for 20 years to watch a type of comedy you don't care for? I don't really understand your call for help.

[–] aciolino 9 years ago

Um, it's not like I have sat in front a TV screen for twenty years to the exclusion of all else. I mean, (now follow me here) that about 20 years ago I watched the film, and a few years later saw it again, with the hopes that time would make a difference, and then again recently, but each time left unfulfilled.

I didn't "force" myself as you put it. I was driven by curiosity out of the praise this film receives, and the number of people who find it "funny."

I may try again in a few years. It's not torture. It's just curiosity.

[–] SmoothHector 9 years ago

Have you seen Playtime, traffic and mon oncle? I think you would enjoy those more! :)

[–] aciolino 9 years ago

I saw Mon Oncle which I enjoyed but did not find all that fun. Good film. Did not see the others. Thanks! Will try!

[–] IEatWords 8 years ago

It's not just you. It should appeal to people who laugh hard at mimes, while others, like myself, find it grating for the most part. It's very french. As a whole, french cinema often times tries to impress with nifty gimmicks, first and foremost, above anything else.

I found one thing funny through the whole film, while I couldn't stand the Hulot character with his hiked up pants, pointing his butt out at the camera and the ridiculously repetitive gags, like the door that boings every single time it swings open. It was amusing at best the first time, but by the 30th time it made me beyond ready to move on to something else. I can't imagine there's someone out there who could keep laughing at that gag, but I'm sure there is.

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