Jacques Tati's Mr. Hulot's Holiday (1953) is a slapstick comedy film which reminds me of Charlie Chaplin's output. In this film Tati introduced Mr. Hulot, a hilarious pipe-smoking character who has his own peculiar posture and clothing. After he arrives at a holiday resort, he begins to wreak havoc by accident even though he tries to do good for the people around him.
Even though the film was made with sound, the form is very similar to that of the silent masters'. Dialogue is sparse and mostly the film relies on its visuals (naturally, it's a physical comedy after all). When sound is used, it is used effectively - especially when it comes to sound effects.
The film's gags might be "only silly", but the way they are constructed, performed and put together is very complex - and that's why I appreciate the film. Despite that, I felt the film lacked something a little - maybe I was expecting a deeper layer from the content, but maybe that is just me. However, the huge cast of great characters is a praiseworthy achievement.
Tati nearly always frames the shot in a way that there are multiple levels of action - and on top of that, most of the compositions are wonderful to look at. The film's structure seems to be quite simple at first: Mr. Hulot running from one situation to another. In the end, it is proven that the whole film was clearly leading to a great climax.
Jacques Tati's Mr. Hulot's Holiday is a film that anyone can enjoy - and huge bursts of genuine laughter are guaranteed.
Score: 9 out of 10
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