People (2004)
Directed by Fabien Onteniente

Film Review

Director Fabien Onteniente followed up his popular 2000 satire Jet Set with this rather pointless sequel. It's a film that plods its weary way over exactly the same ground, offering even less in the way of a coherent narrative and believable characterisation. It is as easy to slate Onteniente as it is to club a baby seal, but to give him his due he has unequivocally mastered the art of making totally vacuous comedies that are guaranteed to result in a stampede to the box office. Camping (2006), Disco (2008), Camping 2 (2010)... it seems that the French cinemagoing public just can't get enough of this director's savagely humourless brand of humour.

Whereas Jet Set at least had the advantage of being topical, People was well past its sell-by date even before it went into production, and within a year of its release it feels ludicrously dated and clichéd.  It is incredible that an actor of Rupert Everett's standing should even contemplate embroiling himself in such tedious lowbrow fare as this, (although given that he subsequently appeared in drag in the St. Trinian's remakes our surprise is now somewhat tempered). Only José Garcia's outrageously camp performance offers anything by way of entertainment. If contentless comedies that are as funny as root canal treatment light your candle, this is the film for you - otherwise it might be best to give it a very wide berth.

Film Synopsis

In one disastrous evening, Charles de Poulignac sees his reputation as the prince of the Parisian jet set decimated by one of his rivals.  On the advice of his friend Arthus, he heads for Ibiza to persuade John-John, an iconic gay celebrity, to help restore his image.  Is Charles ready for the dramatic change in lifestyle he must undergo in order to redeem himself in the eyes of the world's glitterati…