Friendship breaks any boundary

Intouchables (2011)

This has now become the most successful non-American film in the history of the movies. I saw it earlier last year and while making my top 10 list I was even trying to fit it in there, but eventually it got left out, but only barely. So what's it all about? A rich quadriplegic hires a small time crook from the slums as his caretaker. These two seemingly unmatching people then develop a strong friendship. That's pretty much the story of this film, but there's quite a bit more to it in the form of warm hearted drama and genuinely funny comedy as well. The problem of this movie is that it's a bit too safe and a tad too pre-calculated to push the right buttons. I mean sure not every movie needs to be edgy, but this movie tries to be gritty and realistic at times, but it's all in a safe way, like there was someone constantly telling you “don't worry, we will be soon through this tougher subject matter and everyone will be just fine, oh hey lets laugh a bit so it'll go easier”. And the part about being pre-calculated, it's quite formulaic and actually similar stories have been echoing in the history of the movies for ages. Now that's not all bad as this movie tries to bring a new, seemingly fresh, touch on things but still you have that feeling that you've seen this all before. The problems don't end there as my friend pointed out this movie is actually a bit racist. As she put it “the black man is depicted as this kind of wild monkey who gets tamed and learns the bliss of white man's capitalistic world“. I don't really share her opinion, but I do understand where it comes from, it's partly the fault of the overly safe nature of this movie.

Now I guess I made the movie sound bad. But it really isn't, that's the beauty of this movie, it plays on feelings so nicely that you don't really even care if there's something wrong with it. You're willing to look past it's shortcomings and let it dig out a few tears and laughs from you. The cast is great and the direction solid, not a thing to complain in those departments. The cinematography was quite Hollywood-like apart from a few scenes which looked a bit out of context from a stylistic point of view. In the end it's a great feel good movie which has some problems, but you won't mind that much as it will make you a bit happier.

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