The Intouchables Movie Review (2012)
A hilarious and heartfelt comedy about an unlikely friendship between two men, The Intouchables is a movie that you have to see.
For many people, being seen for exactly who you are is vitally important. More important than gifts, more important than quality time, more important that almost anything else – particularly when you are dealing with or have dealt with serious medical issues.
The Intouchables is a story about two men – Phillipe and Driss. Driss has had a difficult life, spent time in prison, won’t hold a job, and doesn’t expect much of himself because people don’t expect much from him. Phillipe, a rich Frenchman with a household staff, is a quadriplegic due to an awful accident and looking for a new live-in caretaker. He has been through many caretakers and, when Driss comes into the interview with his “sign this paper so the government will keep paying me” attitude, Phillipe is charmed by the differences in this man vs. everyone else. Driss ultimately (and semi-grudgingly) moves in and their relationship blossoms.
This is a fantastic buddy comedy that had me laughing out loud. While the circumstances that Phillipe and Driss find themselves in are often amusing, it is their reactions to the situations that are truly hysterical. There is a specific scene where Driss is testing the limits of the fact that Phillipe can’t feel his legs that had me screaming at the screen while laughing. I assume that’s a fairly common reaction.
The thing about this movie is that it gently flows between being serious and funny. Phillipe cannot do anything for himself other than appreciate things with his eyes, move his electric wheelchair using a device with his chin, eat, smell, and feel things above the neck. It is an extremely difficult existence that he lives with constantly and rarely gets to think about very much else.
Driss has been running with the wrong crowd, is not refined, and doesn’t fit in with the “elegance” that Phillipe is typically surrounded by – which is exactly what Phillipe enjoys about him. Driss doesn’t see Phillipe as an “invalid.” In fact, at times he completely forgets that Phillipe is unable to function by himself. And that is the joy of this film. Two people seeing each other for exactly who they are, not where they come from or their circumstances.
This movie is based on a true story and you get an update on where the real people are and how they are doing at the end of the film. There was also an American remake made in 2017 (The Upside with Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston), but this film is much better.
One of the other things that I loved about The Intouchables is the charm that leaps off the screen through stars Omar Sy and François Cluzet. I loved watching their friendship bloom. I loved being surprised by Driss’ responses to things. I loved that Phillipe found things just as funny as I did. This movie was a great time – I hope you enjoy it.
Runtime: 112 minutes
Motion Picture Rating: R
Languages Spoken In The Film: French with English subtitles
Should You Watch It? Yes, definitely
Did I Cry? Yep, I did
My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Available: Free on Prime Video or may be available for free on other streaming platforms
