Cast: Francois Cluzet, Omar Sy, Anne Ly Ne Directors: Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Author’s Rating: 4/5

In 2010, Sanjay Leela Bhansali gave us a impressively melancholic piece of cinema, Guzaarish, a story of a quadriplegic who files a petition in court to end his life. Come 2012, two French directors, Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano give us The Intouchables, a story of a quadriplegic who hires a young man as his caretaker.

The aim is not to make any comparison between Bhansali’s masterpiece and The Intouchables, but to comprehend how two movies having the same backdrop but incredibly different execution, mystically tugs at your heartstrings to equal extents. To put it simply,

The Intouchables is a diamond of nuanced performances and sublime circumstances. It starts off a bit cautiously when Phillipe (Francois Cluzet), a rich bloke after a paragliding accident, which renders his left side paralyzed, hires an unlikely candidate, Driss (Powerhouse performance by Omar Sy), as his caretaker.

Characters are deepened, storyline is realized and after that, it’s a roller coaster ride having two guys plunging into an unfathomable friendship and us viewers marveling over the testament to humanity being outlined on the screen.

Some life affirming lessons, handful of jabbing at individuals and a sizzling bromance at its heart, The Intouchables hits all notes high. What easily could have been an ordeal in hardships and misfortunes was turned on its toe to create a witty and warm drama that stays with you.

On par with the directions is the terrific writing of the movie that gives its funny posture a sentimental backbone.

What bogs the movie down are the not-so-splendid set pieces and racy content in between that was definitely not called for. The over exposed class differences are at times thought provoking but usually takes the dynamism out of this syrupy chirrupy drama. Nevertheless, the film succeeds in bringing out emotions and is in all terms a dramatic achievement.

The Intouchables is a crowd pleaser through and through. The records justify this as it is one of the most successful French cinema of all times.

It might be possible that among the heavy rush of movies like Cocktail and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, The Intouchables loses its share of audience. But in the end, you do not want to miss this charming piece of cinema that surpasses clichés and is an everlasting ode to friendship. Strongly recommended.