Was ist schon normal?

I chose to watch this movie on a flight without any expectations, but I'm so glad I did. It's been a while since a film made me laugh this hard. Being on a plane, I had to keep my laughter quiet, but inside, I was cracking up! What a joy to watch. The actors are so genuine and endearing. It might resonate more with those familiar with French culture, especially with its setting in the beautiful French countryside. The film also makes you reflect on the people who work with and care for those with 'a little something extra.' Forget the misery in the news-watch this movie with your family and enjoy!"

It's a bad comedy even against low French standards. Don't expect the likes of Intouchable! Constant swearing, flat and repetitive slapstick, unbelievable plot and social interactions, you have it all and more that you don't ask for in Un p'tit truc en plus. From start to finish, I have felt uncomfortable in my seat as I watched social workers being ridiculed and people with a disability, well, depicted in a clumsy way, to say the least. The only redeeming quality is the location, lovely region. I am deeply preoccupied that this film appears to meet some success in my home country. Hopefully it remains quarantined within its borders and no one outside France ever feels the urge to read my comment on this piece of rubbish. But if you do for some reason, just take in with you those two final words: please avoid!

A classic story framework, based on making amends and redemption, dealt with here in the world of a group of educators who accompany the mentally handicapped on their summer vacation.

The group finds itself unwittingly infiltrated by two escaped bank robbers, which gives them good cover, at least for a while. The film then plays with the intrusion of these supposedly normal people into the group. Of course, this allows the film to develop a story that highlights the humanity or de-humanity of the various characters, both normal and abnormal, by creating little stories between them. Humor, tenderness, stupidity, gratuitous malice, prejudice, good humor, mischief, many things are brought together in different ways, both on the side of the people who supervise and on that of the handicapped. In short, the film speaks of human beings, in its own way, in all their diversity.

The fact that the film uses real disabled people, and therefore non-professional actors, is a good thing. Their handicaps and their humanity are well integrated into the drama, and the value of having non-professional actors in a cast is well established (see some of Bruno Dumont's films).

Un P'ti Truc En Plus (or A Little Something Extra for the English title) is a lighthearted French comedy. Most of the actors are disabled or mentally challenged, but they were a joy to watch. Credits to them for making this a funny and easy-to-watch movie. There are enough funny scenes to keep you entertained. It's not to be taken too seriously, the message is clear, everybody can learn something from somebody else, disabled or not. Some people might not find it funny but then again comedy is the most difficult genre to please everybody as we all have a different sense of humour. My wife and I did enjoy it, like many others will.

When I first sat down to watch Un Petit Truc en Plus, my expectations were not particularly high. The film's premise seemed a bit far-fetched, and I anticipated a predictable storyline with overused tropes. However, I was very pleasantly surprised by what unfolded on screen. While the plot might initially appear a bit "out there," as the story progresses, the action turns out to be quite plausible. The film finds a delicate balance between its more outlandish elements and a sense of realism that keeps the audience engaged. This is largely thanks to the excellent performances delivered by the cast. The actors bring a level of talent and naturalness to their roles that is both refreshing and captivating. They truly embody their characters, making the viewer invested in their journeys and experiences.

The film also offers a fun and entertaining narrative that keeps you amused throughout. Although there are numerous profanities sprinkled throughout the dialogue, something I typically do not appreciate, in this context, they felt quite natural. The use of strong language did not detract from the experience; on the contrary, it added to the authenticity of the characters and their interactions.

In the end, Un Petit Truc en Plus is not a masterpiece, but it is a charming comedy with an endearing cast that provides a genuinely good time. It's a film that surprises with its heartfelt performances and amusing plot, proving that sometimes, even when you least expect it, a movie can pleasantly surprise you and deliver more than you anticipated.