Bach millionnaire: A relic of a different kind of funny

Is it worth the watch?

If you like old French comedies that move at the speed of a gentle stroll, you might actually enjoy Bach millionnaire. It’s definitely not for those who need high-stakes tension or modern pacing—it is slow, quiet, and occasionally very repetitive. You will probably hate it if you’re looking for a sharp, cynical satire because this is just honest-to-goodness lighthearted fluff.

Bach has this way of looking at the camera that just says, "I don't know why I'm here either." It’s actually quite endearing. He carries the movie on his back when the script decides to take a nap for ten minutes at a time. Seriously, there are moments where I think the director just left the camera rolling to see what would happen.

The little things

The pacing is… well, let’s call it relaxed. There is a scene in the second act where a butler walks across a room for what feels like an eternity. It isn't a joke, but it ends up being one anyway because you start wondering if he’s ever going to reach the door. It’s weirdly hypnotic.

It definitely lacks the polish you’d see in something like Remodeling Her Husband, but that’s fine. It feels like a stage play that got lost on its way to a theater. It’s dusty. It’s grainy. It feels like it was filmed in a house where everyone was just trying to do their best.

• The dialogue is very "of its time."
• The sets look like they might tip over if someone sneezed too hard.
• Bach’s mustache is a character in its own right.

I found myself drifting off a few times during the middle, mostly because the plot stops moving forward and just starts circling the same three rooms. But then, someone would trip over a rug, or say something so incredibly earnest that I’d be pulled right back in. It’s an uneven ride, for sure. Sometimes it’s a classic, sometimes it’s just a noise in the background. Don’t go in expecting a masterpiece and you’ll have a decent enough time. 🎩