Adhémar Lampiot: A dusty trip to Paris that barely leaves a mark

Is this worth your time?

Honestly, only if you are deeply obsessed with French cinema from this specific era or have a weird soft spot for stories about meddling notaries. If you want something snappy or genuinely funny, look elsewhere. People who hate slow, stage-bound dialogue will probably want to turn it off within the first ten minutes.

The whole thing feels like it was filmed inside a box. It’s got that stagey, cramped energy that makes you wish someone would just open a window. Or at least let the characters walk down a street without it feeling like a set piece from a local theater production.

Tremplin is the kind of character you want to reach through the screen and shake. His obsession with finding the right 'rich' husband for his daughter feels so dated it’s almost impressive. He drags everyone to Paris like he’s taking livestock to market.

There is this one moment where Henriette meets the car salesman, and you can just feel the movie trying to force a spark. It’s like watching two strangers being shoved together in a crowded elevator. There is absolutely no chemistry, just a lot of stiff posturing.

The Paris Trip

Paris is supposed to be the backdrop for romance, but here it’s just a gray hallway. I kept waiting for a decent location shot, but the budget clearly went to keeping the notary in fancy hats. It makes me miss the kinetic energy of something like Man Wanted, where at least people moved around.

The car salesman is peak slime. He’s got that oily smile that tells you exactly where this is going, even if you’ve never seen a movie in your life. It isn’t subtle. It’s like being hit over the head with a baguette.

• The dialogue feels like it was written to be read, not spoken.
• The costumes look like they were pulled out of a dusty trunk right before the cameras rolled.
• I’m pretty sure I saw the same plant in the background of three different 'locations'.

It’s not a complete disaster, but it’s definitely thin. It lacks the punch you’d find in a classic comedy. It feels like the filmmakers were tired, or maybe they just didn't care much about the script. Sometimes I wonder if they even looked at the dailies before calling it a wrap. It just sits there.

If you're looking for a film with more actual life in it, maybe check out A Fight to the Finish instead. At least that one has a pulse. This one? It’s just an old notary talking about money for an hour. 🙄