My Wife Maurice

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the world of Eurotrash where you'll find bearded drag queens, convoluted pratfalls, vengeful women wielding powertools, muscular blondes in their underwear and an overall sense of fun not seen since the early films of Almodovar. This French offering, from writer/director Jean-Marie Poire who previously gave us Les Visiteurs (one of France's highest grossing comedies of all time), is a fast-paced, frenetically-cut gem with a cast of memorable characters.

On a trip to Venice, philandering husband George (Otto) literally gives his mistress Emmanuel (Evans) the big push as she discovers he is not actually the bachelor millionaire she believed him to be. Arriving back in Paris, she decides to confront him and his wife, armed with the truth and a chainsaw. In a moment of panic, George convinces the innocent visiting charity worker Maurice (Laspales) to do the impossible: dress up in women's clothing and pretend to be his spouse, in order to scare Emmanuel off. This ludicrous, desperate idea begins a roller coaster of catastrophes, blunders and misunderstandings that Georges Feydeau would have been jealous of, as an array of colorful characters, including the mother-in-law, the posh potential sub-lets and even Emmanuel's perpetually horny but insanely jealous fiancée, enter and exit causing Maurice, and eventually George, to come up with ever more outrageous stories.

Though not overtly homosexual in theme, the perfect comic timing, witty dialogue and sense of Eurocamp make this cross-dressing farce a heterosexual La Cage Aux Folles with heaving bosoms. Strap yourself in and enjoy the ride! (French with English subtitles)

Darren Chadwick