The Valet (La Doublure) (2006)

70% of critics liked it
(82 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(8,914 ratings)

French farce master Francis Veber (The Dinner Game) combines slapstick laughs with rapid-fire dialogue as he tells the tale of a Parisian valet unwittingly drawn into the affairs of a wealthy industrialist. François Pignon (Gad Elmaleh) is a simple valet employed by a posh Paris restaurant.… More French farce master Francis Veber (The Dinner Game) combines slapstick laughs with rapid-fire dialogue as he tells the tale of a Parisian valet unwittingly drawn into the affairs of a wealthy industrialist. François Pignon (Gad Elmaleh) is a simple valet employed by a posh Paris restaurant. Blissfully unaware of the paparazzi stalking powerful businessman Pierre Levasseur (Daniel Auteuil) and his stunning mistress, Elena (Alice Taglioni), the innocent passerby François wanders haphazardly into the frame. Realizing that the common man in the photograph may be Levasseur's only hope of avoiding a nasty divorce from his wife, Christine (Kristin Scott Thomas), Pierre's quick-thinking lawyer (Richard Berry) arranges for François to live with Elena in order to mislead the tabloids. Having just been dumped by childhood sweetheart Emilie (Virginie Ledoyen), François accepts the proposal, in the hopes he can win her back through jealousy. But Pierre's jealousy flares, Elena grows frustrated with her new digs, and Christine might know more than she's letting on. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 25 min.
Directed By: Francis Veber
Written By: Francis Veber
Genres: Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 12, 2007 Wide
On DVD: Sep 18, 2007
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

Critic Reviews

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
It's not as outrageous or as hilarious as his best work, but it's still charming, even when it isn't finding the funnybone.
Kerry Lengel, Arizona Republic
It's all empty calories, of course, but that's what French pastry -- not to mention popcorn -- is all about.
Hap Erstein, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Veber's script is masterfully constructed to increase the laughs as the scheme grows more and more convoluted.
Tom Long, Detroit News
Starts with a nice premise, but ends up fractured.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
Call it a sorbet, a soufflé or an amuse bouche, The Valet is a satisfying antidote to the overload and bombast that run rampant in American movies at this time of the year.
Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
A deft, daft, totally unbelievable yet somehow totally engaging comedy.
Heather Huntington, ReelzChannel.com
Cute, breezy, and fun.
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone, TheMovieChicks.com
There are a few extra plot threads that feel like parking spaces that don't quite fit, but the story is squeezed in anyway. I'd still check out the valet.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
A charming if familiar French comedy of manners, again showing writer-director Francis Veber's skillful touch as a farceur, this time with elegant British actress Kristin Scott Thomas and vet Daniel Auteuil, who could have played this role in his sleep
Kam Williams, NewsBlaze
A sophisticated screwball comedy right up there with the best of Billy Wilder.
Tim Brayton, Antagony & Ecstasy
Very, very sleepy and low-key.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
It's not often that you see a sex farce that isn't dripping with sex, but The Valet proves it can be done.
John Beifuss, Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
The movie is so tame you may find your mind wandering toward the casting of the inevitable Hollywood remake. (Jonah Hill as Pignon, perhaps?)
Donald Munro, Fresno Bee
I can even see Adam Sandler starring in an American remake. Can't you just see a dopey, befuddled Sandler sharing a lumpy little twin bed with, say, Jessica Alba?
Ted Murphy, Murphy's Movie Reviews
Except for a slightly misguided final scene, LA DOUBLURE (THE VALET) is a great dessert movie: a brisk and breezy romp that will leave audiences smiling.
John Thomason, Orlando Weekly
I kept fantasizing about how great this film would have been if Eric Rohmer had made it.
Jack Garner, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
If you're in the mood for Gallic lightheartedness, you know where to go.
Brandon Judell, New York Theatre Wire
One can see Moliére being jealous of the plot line, and Karl Marx applauding. You see capitalists who exploit the masses do not fare too well in this venture.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Veber fills the film with engagingly quirky characters and bright gags that keep it floating along with such assurance that it constantly charms.

Read all 19 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

This is a quick, and airy film. The plot -a bumbling blockhead pays a valet to shack up with his mistress in order to fool his wife, while at the same time trying to convince the mistress he is getting divorced, This premise doesn't leave much to the imagination, but the dialogue… More
This is a quick, and airy film. The plot -a bumbling blockhead pays a valet to shack up with his mistress in order to fool his wife, while at the same time trying to convince the mistress he is getting divorced, This premise doesn't leave much to the imagination, but the dialogue is lively. The supporting characters, including a doctor who coerces medical care from his patients, adds a real spark to what would otherwise be a conventional story. Cute, and entertaining.
Robert C

The cast is great, Paris is beautiful, the story is ammusing (if not trite at times). Gad Elmaleh is (once again) absolutely charming as Pignon, the down on his (romantic) luck valet and Kristen Scott Thomas is great as the wife of the philandering millionaire (Daniel Auteuil).… More
The cast is great, Paris is beautiful, the story is ammusing (if not trite at times). Gad Elmaleh is (once again) absolutely charming as Pignon, the down on his (romantic) luck valet and Kristen Scott Thomas is great as the wife of the philandering millionaire (Daniel Auteuil). Unfortunatley things just never seem to develope fully. I was almost expecting (when the screen went black) to see a "Insert Disc 2" message pop up, but instead the credits started rolling! We even scrolled through all of the credits, in the hopes that they would have one of those little "epilogue" clips that some films tag on to the end. But nothing.
Mason W

The Valet is such a funny foreign film. Kristin Scott Thomas whom was great in The English Patient co-stars in this comedy. A valet is caught in a taploid magazine beside a famous model whom is having an affair with a very wealthy man that is also in the picture. In order to not… More
The Valet is such a funny foreign film. Kristin Scott Thomas whom was great in The English Patient co-stars in this comedy. A valet is caught in a taploid magazine beside a famous model whom is having an affair with a very wealthy man that is also in the picture. In order to not get divorced the model and valet must con there way to prove they are a happy couple whom live together...it is too funny.
Bruce B

A great movie, its in French with English subtitles, but a very funny movie. Alic Taglioni could become a favorite female actor real fast, I'm free for dinner. Worth the rent.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]In "The Valet", billionaire Pierre Levasseur(Daniel Auteuil) is in a bit of a pickle when he is photographed arguing with his supermodel mistress Elena Simonsen(Alice Taglioni) in the street. In order to save his marriage, his high-paying job and… More
[font=Century Gothic]In "The Valet", billionaire Pierre Levasseur(Daniel Auteuil) is in a bit of a pickle when he is photographed arguing with his supermodel mistress Elena Simonsen(Alice Taglioni) in the street. In order to save his marriage, his high-paying job and presumably his manhood, he tells his wife, Christine(Kristin Scott Thomas), that Elena was really with the other man in the photograph, Francois Pignon(Gad Elmaleh), a valet, who has just had his marriage proposal turned down by Emilie(Virginie Ledoyen), owner of a struggling bookstore. Pierre takes his lie one step further by fabricating a relationship between Francois and Elena(while also putting them on the payroll) by having them be seen together in public and spending their nights together at Francois' place...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"The Valet" is a sharp satirical farce about status in society. After all, what is the most important to us: a flashy car, a supermodel girlfriend or being with the person we love? The movie is funny without being cruel or condescending, especially in that the valet is a true mensch while the billionaire is at the very least a weasel. Actually, all of the characters are very much three-dimensional. And admittedly, I did take a certain amount of pleasure in the cell phone salesman being sleazy...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]Oh, yeah. Don't believe everything you read.[/font]
meril l

So much fun! A lot of French comedies are almost too farcical for my liking, but La Doublure is just silly. The main characters are super likeable, and though it resolved a bit too quickly, it was generally very well-written and enjoyable.
George N

Quite funny... i bet they laughed themselves to the bank in France... anyway, this is a funny movie, but if you're looking for a plausible storyline and no strange side-tracks within that storyline, this is probably not your best bet.
Juli R

This is a relationship farce by master Francis Veber. A bit trite, but the plot just keeps getting more convoluted. Almost impossible not to be charmed by this. With Kristin Scott Thomas (The English Patient) and Virginie Ledoyen (The Beach).
Marion R

It was fun, but I didn't like the ending, he should have ended up with the other girl.