L'Horoscope (1978)
Directed by Jean Girault

Film Review

L'Horoscope was one of the last films that Jean Girault directed before his untimely death in 1982.  By this time, he had a string of phenomenally successful film comedies behind him, including some massive box office hits featuring the French comedy icon Louis de Funès - Le Gendarme de Saint-Tropez (1964), Jo (1970) and Les Grandes vacances (1967).  L'Horoscope suffers from the notable absence of a lead comedy performer of the calibre of de Funès but, hampered with a mediocre and rambling script, to say nothing of a distinct dearth of funny gags, it was never going to be a runaway hit.

In fact this was to be one of Jean Girault's worst performing films, barely attracting an audience of 94 thousand (well below the million or so the director regularly achieved in previous years).  Capable actor though he is, Henri Courseaux is completely ill-cast in the lead role and turns in the kind of limp comedy performance that would be embarrassing in a children's tea-time show.  The only member of the cast to shine is Girault regular Michel Galabru, although he only puts in a brief cameo appearance and this is not enough to salvage this stuttering comedy misfire.  

Film Synopsis

It is only when he sets foot in the church where he is to be married that Antoine Fromont comes to his senses and realises that he is making a terrible mistake.  On the spur of the moment, he takes to his heels and seeks sanctuary in Paris, where he hooks up with his friend Vincent, the owner of a bar.  Antoine promptly finds gainful employment as a barman and things could hardly be better for him now that the matrimonial noose has been lifted from his neck.  A fortune teller persuades Antoine and Vincent that their horoscope promises a welter of future happiness to them both.

To the amazement of both men, the prediction turns out to be true and Antoine promptly finds his true soul mate in Josy, Vincent's former girlfriend.  Antoine then wins a tidy packet at the races and is soon living an idyllic life in the South of France, with Josy and Vincent happy to share in his good fortune.  Just when things could not be peachier, the disgruntled brothers of Antoine's jilted bride show up and are far from amused when they find their prospective brother-in-law amorously linked to another woman.  Vincent has problems of his own, as he struggles to gain the affections of the woman he has lost his heart to - a pushy estate agent desperate to earn her next commission.  It seems there are some things that Antoine's horoscope had conveniently omitted to mention...