Remember that feeling? Stumbling upon a brightly colored VHS box at the local rental store, maybe tucked away in the foreign film section or sandwiched between the latest Stallone and Schwarzenegger epics? The cover art promises thrills, laughs, maybe a dash of European flair you didn't quite get from Hollywood. That’s exactly the vibe hitting play on Georges Lautner’s Le Guignolo (1980) brings back. If you ever caught this slice of French action-comedy gold, likely late at night with slightly fuzzy tracking, you know the grin it can induce.
Right from the get-go, you’re reminded this is a Jean-Paul Belmondo vehicle through and through. Fresh off another collaboration with Lautner in Flic ou Voyou (1979), Belmondo returns as Alexandre Dupré, a recently released con man with charm oozing from every pore. His plan? A simple bit of imposter-play aboard a luxury liner. But, this being an 80s action-comedy with espionage undertones, things go gloriously sideways almost immediately. A dying secret agent, a briefcase containing state secrets (microfilm hidden in a lighter, naturally!), and suddenly Dupré is mistaken for a notorious international hitman, tumbling headfirst into a world of spies, femme fatales, and cartoonishly inept villains.
### Belmondo Does What Belmondo Does Best
Let's be honest, the plot, co-written by the legendary Michel Audiard (a frequent Lautner collaborator known for his sharp, witty dialogue) and comedy master Francis Veber (who gave us classics like La Cage aux Folles and Le Dîner de Cons), is delightfully preposterous. It’s a framework designed purely to let Belmondo loose. And loose he gets! At 47 years old, the man was still performing stunts that would make insurance adjusters weep. The film is practically a showcase for his effortless charisma and astonishing physical prowess.
We see him engage in brawls that are equal parts brutal and balletic, execute daring escapes, and, of course, flash that trademark lopsided grin that could charm the birds out of the trees (or, in this case, classified information out of unsuspecting individuals). Supporting players like the alluring Mirella D'Angelo as Pamela, the damsel not always in distress, and Marie Laforêt add flavor, but this is Belmondo's show.
### Venice Never Looked So Chaotic (Or Fun)
The real co-star here is the stunning city of Venice. Lautner uses the canals, bridges, and palazzos not just as a backdrop, but as an active playground for mayhem. The speedboat chase sequence? Forget slick CGI – this is pure, unadulterated practical stunt work. Real boats, real speed, weaving through those narrow waterways with a palpable sense of danger and excitement. You can almost smell the canal water and exhaust fumes. It feels gloriously real in a way that modern, overly polished sequences often don't. Didn't those near misses feel genuinely heart-stopping back then?
And then there's that stunt. You know the one. Belmondo, dangling precariously from a rope ladder attached to a helicopter as it flies over the Venetian lagoon and St. Mark's Square. No green screens, no digital trickery – just Belmondo himself, hundreds of feet in the air. It’s a breathtaking piece of old-school movie magic, born from the star's own insistence on performing his stunts. It's the kind of sequence that cemented his legend as not just an actor, but a true action icon. Reportedly, the Venetian authorities weren't exactly thrilled about a helicopter buzzing their historic landmarks, adding another layer of real-world audacity to the filming.
### That Glorious 80s Action-Comedy Feel
Le Guignolo perfectly captures that specific blend of action and almost slapstick comedy prevalent in the era. The violence is often played for laughs, the villains are enjoyably incompetent, and the tone swings wildly from tense spy thriller beats to outright farce. It’s a film that doesn’t take itself too seriously, aiming squarely for entertainment. The score pops with jaunty energy, underscoring both the thrills and the humor.
It's easy to see why the film was a massive hit in France upon release. It delivered exactly what audiences wanted: Belmondo being Belmondo, spectacular stunts, beautiful locations, and a healthy dose of escapism. While perhaps less known internationally than some of his other work, finding a copy on VHS felt like uncovering a secret handshake into the world of cool European cinema. I distinctly remember catching this on a grainy tape borrowed from a friend's older brother, feeling like I'd discovered something exotic and exciting compared to the usual Hollywood fare.
Retro Fun Fact: The film's title, Le Guignolo, translates roughly to "The Puppet" or "The Clown," perfectly reflecting Belmondo's character – a trickster pulled into events far beyond his control, manipulating situations with a blend of wit and luck.
Of course, viewed today, some elements feel undeniably dated. The plot logic occasionally evaporates, and the gender politics are firmly rooted in 1980. But these quirks are part of its charm, time capsules of a different era of filmmaking. The focus was on star power, practical spectacle, and sheer, unpretentious fun.
### The Verdict
Le Guignolo is a blast from the past, a joyous romp fueled by Belmondo's magnetic presence and some genuinely impressive pre-CGI stunt work. It’s light, breezy, and doesn't ask much of the viewer beyond buckling up and enjoying the ride through the canals and conspiracies of Venice. The blend of spy spoof, action, and comedy works thanks to the charisma of its lead and Lautner's energetic direction. While the story is thin, the execution is pure 80s cinematic comfort food.
Rating: 7/10
Justification: Loses points for a sometimes nonsensical plot and dated elements, but earns major points for Belmondo's legendary performance, the incredible practical stunts (especially that helicopter scene), the gorgeous Venice locations used so effectively, and its sheer, unadulterated entertainment value. It's a perfect example of star-driven European action-comedy from the era.
Final Thought: They literally don't make 'em like this anymore – a film where the biggest special effect was arguably Jean-Paul Belmondo himself, hanging off a helicopter with a grin. Pure VHS Heaven.