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6/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 6/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Il est charmant remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, it depends on how much patience you have for people singing in offices. If you want a gritty drama, run away. If you enjoy watching a movie that feels like it was put together with glue and good vibes, you'll probably have a decent afternoon with it.
It’s not exactly high art. It’s more like a soufflé that didn't quite rise but still tastes like sugar.
Our lead gets booted from law school for cheating, which is a hilarious start. He lands a job as a notary—a job he clearly isn't qualified for—and immediately turns the place into a music hall. It’s the kind of logic you only find in movies from the early thirties where the stakes are basically zero.
Watching them try to balance actual work with song-and-dance numbers is pretty funny. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in Experimental Marriage, though maybe with more accordion music.
The movie doesn't try to be profound. It just wants to get you to tap your foot for an hour or so. Some of the musical numbers are genuinely catchy, even if the production value is hovering somewhere near 'cardboard cutout.'
It’s not as polished as The Queen Was in the Parlor, but it has a messy, weird energy that I kind of liked. You can tell they were just making it up as they went along sometimes. Maybe skip it if you're in a bad mood, but otherwise? Just lean in and let it be silly. 🎶