Fernandel and Gaben— It's a force. If you know that the film was produced by Fernandel and Jean Gabin, then of course you will want to see it. The plot is traditional for later films with Gaben. A respectable crook of retirement age wants to fit into the society of respectable people, at least in the provincial Honfleur in the north of France, where even in summer it rains and if the locals drink coffee, then necessarily with Calvados. And if there is an attractive and sympathetic widow in the city... And if the widow is also rich and, as they say now, socially active - how not here to break into a cake, in order to impress the lady of the heart?
A detective comedy with simple and fairly easy humor. Some amplified comedy from Fernandel, except for his signature smile, is not worth waiting here. Movie humor in dialogues and situations. It seems to me that Jean Gabin realized that the role of Monsieur Favreau was written for him, of course, but the more elegant manner of playing ' serious' (and because of this less predictable) Fernandel, is suitable for ' Man in a Buick' much better.
A well-chosen acting ensemble successfully shades Fernandel's play.
It is especially gratifying to watch the image of old Europe, where goods and currency are still smuggled into France, where a policeman can ask Monsieur Favreau to spank his son if he does not listen during a trip to neighboring Switzerland, where the Christmas lottery is the main event of the year for a local elected society, and the mention of the colonial past (about life in Senegal) is a perfect explanation of the origin of personal wealth. In general, the traditional society, which is now sunk into oblivion.
Not to say that the film turned out bright and exciting, and humor – sparkling. It’s just a good, easy-to-mood movie about a man’s attempt to grab the bird of happiness in his personal life at the final stage of his life.