7.3/10
Senior Film Conservator

A definitive 7.3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. L'Ordonnance malgré lui remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
Honestly, only if you are a completionist for 1930s French cinema or a die-hard Fernandel fan. If you want a tight script or anything resembling logical pacing, steer clear. It feels like a stage play that decided to wander outside for a bit of air and forgot how to come back.
It is definitely one of those movies that exists in its own little bubble. People who hate broad, physical comedy will absolutely loathe it. But, there is a weird, dusty charm to how frantic it gets. 🎥
The plot is a total mess. It starts with the usual case of mistaken identity, which is basically the bread and butter of this era. You have seen this setup in The Hoodlum or even older stuff like The Fable of the Traveling Salesman. It is comfort food, I guess.
It is not exactly a masterwork of editing. Sometimes a shot lingers on a reaction for three seconds too long. It starts to feel a bit awkward, like someone forgot to yell 'cut.' But that is part of the fun, right? It feels real, in a very low-budget, slightly desperate kind of way.
There is a lot of shouting. Just constant, rhythmic shouting. It is not quite as charming as the energy you find in Amour et carrefour, but it gets the job done. I caught myself checking my watch, but then Fernandel did something weird with his eyes and I was back in it again. 🤡
The film doesn't care if you keep up with the story. It just wants to get to the next gag. It is a relic. A very silly, very loud relic.