Une fois dans la vie: A little bit of 1930s chaos

Is it worth the watch?

If you like movies where people run around in suits being mildly dishonest, you’ll probably have a good time with Une fois dans la vie. It’s light, it’s fast, and it’s about as deep as a puddle, which is exactly what I needed on a Tuesday night. If you’re looking for a heavy drama, skip it. You’ll hate the predictable turns.

The whole premise is just a classic setup for a headache. Our lead guy, Noël-Noël, carries that specific kind of frantic energy that makes you wonder why he doesn't just go to the police or put the money in a safe. But that's the point, right? Nobody makes a rational decision in these kinds of comedies.

I found myself laughing at how quickly the "rich man" act falls apart. There's this one moment where he’s trying to order a drink, and you can see the panic in his eyes because he’s clearly counting his fake coins in his head. It’s not subtle, but it works.

The pacing is… well, it’s all over the place. Sometimes it feels like the director was in a huge hurry to get to the next punchline. Other times, a scene just sits there, waiting for the actors to find their footing. It’s got that imperfect, slightly loose rhythm you don't really get in modern movies anymore.

Notes from the couch:

• The lighting in the cafe scene is a bit weird, looks like they ran out of bulbs or something.
• The crooks aren't exactly terrifying, are they? They feel like they walked off the set of La compagnia dei matti just to cause some minor inconvenience.
• I really liked the way the lead actor uses his hands. He’s always adjusting his tie when he lies. It’s a nice little touch.

It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel. It’s just trying to fill an hour or so with some witty banter and a few slapstick mishaps. There’s a scene involving a hat that had me grinning for way longer than it probably should have. 🎩

Is it better than The Mysterious Mr. Wong? Hard to say. They are playing two totally different games. I’ll say this though: I didn't reach for my phone once while watching it. That counts for something.

Anyway, don't overthink it. Just watch it for the weird little details in the background. Like that waiter who is clearly trying not to laugh in the back of the frame during the big reveal. 🙄