Jean Duardin is a genius.
If you only know him from his award-winning turn in The Artist, then you don’t know the half of it. Before that film propelled him into international stardom, he was doing quite well for himself in a series of French comedies, most notably the OSS 117 series.
OSS 117 is Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath, master spy and raconteur. OSS117 is “French James Bond” and the books featuring his character have been adapted many times throughout the years, none of them ever reaching the success of the Bond movie series. When the character was revived a few years ago, they decided to pursue a comedic take on the character, and Duardin was recruited to fill the (now-silly) shoes. Duardin plays the part as a straight-laced egotist in love with himself… and he’s hysterical.
The first film, OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies, featured OSS 117 taking on Iranians and Muslims in the mid-sixties, is one of the funniest takes on spy movie ever made. Imagine “Austin Powers” only… funny. The sequel, Lost in Rio, isn’t quite as good as the first but is still filled with great laughs and scenes.
You can tell the producers and creative team loved 1960s Bond films, and many of the sets and set pieces are loving takes on moments from Connery’s era. The costumes, cars, and locations are all period and perfect… and some jokes are made at the expense of history.
These films also have a notable legacy: Director of both films, Michel Hazanavicius, went on to write and direct The Artist, for which he won the best director Oscar. You can see his talent on full display here, and both OSS117 films are the perfect cure for bad news. Recommended.