Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Just because Netflix’s Budapest is a French film doesn’t mean it’s an astute comedy of manners. No, the movie has more in common with crass American yukfests in which a couple of funny guys spin some laughs out of crazy situations. Par for the course, one of those guys is a straight-ish man, the other is a looser nut, and they’re hoping to liven up their dull lives by doing something kind of stupid, but also kind of smart: starting their own party-planning business for grooms-to-be. Do you think these mildly hapless dudes are susceptible to the vices of their trade? Do monkeys like to fling poo?
BUDAPEST: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?
The Gist: Vincent (Manu Payet) and Arnaud (Jonathan Cohen) are ordinary schlubs in Paris: married, no kids, working crappy jobs where they’re disrespected and disaffected. But after they’re denied entrance to a swanky nightclub and end up at a dive where an aging stripper tells them Budapest is a hot party town, a lightbulb goes on: They’ll organize weekend bachelor benders in Budapest, and escape the drudgery of their lives. It’s an idea so crazy, it just might work.
So they take a fact-finding trip to Budapest, where they partner with a wacky goofball, Georgio (Monsieur Poulpe), and his prostitute wife Suzanna (Henrietta Edvi). They’re introduced to the city’s skeezy wares, which range from the relatively benign (booze, massages, gigantic Hummer limos, strippers) to the more dangerous and debauched (drugs, hookers, machine guns, nightclubs that resemble Eyes Wide Shut on ecstasy). Their first Crazy Tours booking is for a groom dressed in a diaper, bib and bonnet, and it goes far off the rails — property is destroyed to the tune of 35 grand, and partygoers narrowly avoid not only arrest, but death. (Anyone else think this is the dictionary definition of a successful bachelor party, or is it just me?)
Vincent wants to call it quits after the disaster, and Arnaud considers buying him out. But the news headlines they made have the Crazy Tours phone ringing off the hook. As expected, their ensuing venture-slash-adventure puts some stress on their relationships — Vincent’s wife Cecile (Alice Belaidi) is supportive to a point, and Arnaud’s wife Audrey (Alix Poisson) is more controlling, and ultimately invests a controlling stake in their company. Hijinks ensue.
What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: The Hangover is the obvious reference point here, from the men-behaving-badly-on-bachelor-party-trips subject matter to the neon-light-style logo on the poster. Cohen and Payet enjoy a little Owen Wilson-Vince Vaughn mischievous-pal chemistry a la Wedding Crashers. And would any of these movies exist without Bachelor Party?
Performance Worth Watching: Although he’s in a somewhat standard wacky-wingnut role, Poulpe steals his share of scenes and makes the most of his clever one-liners. Georgio is big and dopey and frequently in his skivvies, and Poulpe makes him both obnoxious and weirdly lovable at the same time.
Memorable Dialogue: “I’m a f—ing seagull! A seagull!” Arnaud bellows at his wife, using an overwrought metaphor to assert his need for independence from her authoritative nature. It’s the type of line that draws a big laugh, and would inspire memes if it was in a $150 million-grossing American comedy.
Single Best Shot: In uber-dramatic slo-mo, Vincent and Arnaud test out Eastern Bloc artillery for “research purposes,” firing a zillion rounds directly at the zooming camera, while a trio of zany characters color the margins of the frame.
Sex and Skin: What would a bachelor-party flick be without a handful of scenes featuring topless strippers and simulated schtupping? Oddly enough, you’d think the movie’s European sensibilities would mean more raunch, but Budapest is actually a hair more tame than The Hangover.
Our Take: Films like Budapest often hinge on the interaction of its leads, and Payet and Cohen enjoy some inspired banter as their characters test the limits of themselves, their marriages and their longtime friendship. They’re fun to watch, even when the comedy is, by nature of the vulgar-comedy genre, hit-and-miss. The movie aims to ruffle politically correct sensibilities — e.g., Django references and jokes about anti-Semitism and suicide — so sensitive viewers, be warned. Although the dialogue is consistently funny, it seems like the screenwriters (Payet co-scripted with Simon Moutairou) ran out of steam toward the end, penning a somewhat arbitrary and uninspired third-act climax.
Side note No. 1: The English-language voiceover can be annoying, although sometimes reading subtitles sometimes means quick-witted comedy gets lost in translation. Pick your poison.
Side note No. 2: I was surprised to learn director Xavier Gens also helmed the wild and grisly “Frontier(s),” so consider this a heads-up for horror fans.
Our Call: STREAM IT. Sure, Budapest is essentially a pastiche of better movies in a genre that’s getting played out. But the bottom line is, it’s funny, and it delivers laughs just consistently enough to warrant a recommendation. Party on.
John Serba is a freelance writer and film critic based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Read more of his work at johnserbaatlarge.com or follow him on twitter: @johnserba.
