Blu-ray Review: The Intouchables

STUDIO: The Weinstein Company/Sony | DIRECTOR: Oliver Nakache/Eric Toledano | CAST: Francois Cluzet, Omar Sy, Anne Le Ny, Audrey Fleurot
BLU-RAY & DVD RELEASE DATE: 3/5/2013 | PRICE: DVD $30.99, Blu-ray $35.99
BONUSES: deleted scenes
SPECS: R | 112 min. | Foreign drama/comedy | 1.85:1 aspect ratio | French 5.1 DTS-HD audio | English, Spanish subtitles

RATINGS (out of 5 dishes): Movie | Audio | Video | Overall

Watching the trailer or reading the description for The Intouchables leaves one thought in my mind: Get tissues! Sure, the movie gives the impression of laughs, but when a quadraplegic is part of the story, I automatically think tear-jerker.

But that’s what I would expect from an American movie.

The French are much more subtle, and The Intouchables shows us that a film about tragic circumstances doesn’t have to be doom and gloom. Whereas Hollywood would have pulled out all the stops to have viewers weeping, directors Oliver Nakache and Eric Toledano present a story about the lighter side of tragic life, an inspirational tale about two people who don’t let their problems get in the way of them having a good time.

The Intouchables, in fact, is based on a true life story. Francois Cluzet’s (Little White Lies) Philippe is a very wealthy aristocrat who ended up a quadraplegic after a parasailing accident. Omar Sy’s (Micmacs) Driss is from the other side of town, a man who has nothing but his healthy. The pair come together when Driss shows up at Philippe’s palacial home looking for a job, but quickly believing it’ll go to one of the well-dressed, college grads in the room, Driss storms in asking for a signature so he can get unemployment benefits. Driss is quick to give up when faced with adversity, but strong-willed Philippe sees exactly what he’s been looking for in a helper: a man who will give him no pity.

Their pairing proves beneficial to both. Philippe helps Driss see that he can be more than a loud-mouthed thug hanging out on a street corner doing odd jobs or living off the state to survive. Driss helps Philippe come out of his shell and really live, despite all his ailments.

There is no crying in The Intouchables, no pity for what these men don’t have. Instead, there’s laughter and lots of inspiration. And the performances of Cluzet, Sy and the rest of the supporting cast are spot on. They draw characters we’re happy to be around and leave us wanting more at the end.

The movie is refreshing and fun. A great way to spend a couple hours, and you won’t mind watching it over and over, so buying the disc might be better than renting.

Although this isn’t a sweeping, cinematic epic film, there are nice visuals and good use of color and sound, all of which are amplified beautifully in Blu-ray’s high-definition.

Both the DVD and Blu-ray have the same special features: a few deleted scenes. They’re worth a watch, but the movie itself is worth the price of the disc.

Buy or Rent The Intouchables
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