OSS 117: Cairo - Nest of Spies (2006) Reviews

This movie is a great parody of 1960's spy flicks right down to the day-for-night and rear projection cinematography. It almost feels like a Clouseau Pink Panther movie except for a dearth of slapstick moments. I think it is this relative scarcity of lowbrow slapstick that makes the movie shine. You know Dujardin is an incompetent but you never feel his level of incompetence is so great that it would prevent him from succeeding in his mission. (Jacques Clouseau on the other hand was -so- incompetent, his successes most often were accidental. While this was often very funny, it could also get old quickly.) If you are not a fan of subtitles, you may be somewhat disappointed. However, I think the original French dub exhibits so much of the humor in Dujardin's prosody and intonation that going for an English dub would most likely go over the top and ruin the effect (it's hard to play both condescending and ignorant simultaneously). Give this one a chance and check it out.
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OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies is a French film with English subtitles. It is in color. The makers of this picture did a great job of filming in the 1955 style even though it was really made in 2005. This is a comedy based on the previous OSS stories and films of the 1950's and entire spy film genre including the James Bond movies. There is a simple plot but it is meaningless. The top French spy is sent to Cairo to find his friend, another spy, and a missing Russian ship full of arms. There are some very funny spoofs but I believe I missed many more by simply not caring and not being French. There is no obvious nudity even though Berenice Bejo and Aure Atika star in this picture. When it comes to bumbling and fumbling spies I prefer Maxwell Smart.
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Great spoof if you are a Bond fan, and are okay with subtitled movies. It was very well done, but may lose something in the translation for some. Pay attention, there are so many little details that get the laughs.
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Our high school junior needed to watch a French movie as part of his summer homework. This was a good choice, especially since the entire family could enjoy it. Well done spoof that combines elements of Bond and the Pink Panther. The kids enjoyed the movie in French while the adults followed along with subtitles.
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