the audience applauded

Let's be realistic.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

I think the only way you wouldn't be able to enjoy this movie is if you have been loyal to your partner for a long time and feel envious of the characters. This movie takes us to some brilliant scenes with fantastic one liners through out. The movie flows between comedy and drama, and balances the two perfectly. Just when things start to get serious the movie throws you a fantastic joke, I can't remember laughing out loud so much at a movie. The comedy doesn't drown out the character development and I found myself attracted to the personalities. The are engaging and interesting and you want to know more about them. The psychology of the relationships between characters captures you in the movie. It is quite philosophical in a way but the comedy stops you over thinking. The body language in the movie is very good, there is one scene with a kid at the table with their kid doing homework. The two characters stare blankly at each other and you just know what they're both thinking, it's beautiful imagery and the cinematography is to a high level throughout.This film wasn't directed to casually which it could have quite easily been with the plot. There were some intense emotions but it remained extremely funny from start to finish. If you're 40+ and led a boring life this probably isn't for you but otherwise I honestly can't see how you couldn't enjoy this movie. It's easy to watch and the perfect movie if you're looking for a great laugh with friends. The ending is so funny too, the thriller photo made me laugh way past the credits. I really recommend this movie, don't let the reviews put you off!

This is not an exceptional movie. It is not thought provoking. It offers little social commentary. Its funniest bits are unfortunately its briefest. It doesn't even have a lot of gratuitous nudity, except for a few shots of male butt. So what does it have going for it? For one thing, it's fairly well written. No character comes across as stupid or even unsympathetic, which is already a plus, given the subject. The acting is great. The French really can churn these sexy comedies out and keep a high standard of acting. In part, this is because French films are in a bit of a doldrums, so I suppose good actors are working B films and glad to get the work. But there really is a European sensibility present that might not translate too well for American audiences. For example, the therapy group in which habitual cheaters own up to their sins is a scream. For one thing, everyone talks honestly and in a straightforward manner about their situation, which makes their lack of understanding that they have a "problem" even funnier. They just don't get it, and of course, being European, no question of a butch man-hating therapist, though she recites the usual litany on marriage and faithfulness. This may be the best longer sequence of the bunch, since their naïve inability to see their problem, much less admit it, tells volumes about European attitudes that, like I said, may not translate too well for Americans. Don't get me wrong: their blindness is exaggerated to the point of parody, but it is a possible blindness, something that allows the actors and director (in this segment, it is star Dujardin, who plays about 6 roles) to adopt a lighter tone. Imagine a Woody Allen treatment of infidelity about 20 years ago. Take away the narcissism, the self-indulgent and pseudo philosophical rhetoric, and you get an idea of the scene. Another minor plus: one segment has a 50 year old dentist carrying on with a 19 year student, an affair that we are told started when she was 15. Although Americans don't portray 15 year old sex, a self-indulgent age difference is normal. Here, the cheater gets his comeuppance not from a criticizing wife but from his paramour's teen age friends, who take advantage of his wallet and mock his willingness to play a young man's game. This is what I like about the movie: an economical and not so politicised treatment of faithfulness (or not), and especially a treatment that probably could not be made in America.

The movie made big waves even before it hit the international cinema screens, because someone leaked the fact that a movie poster got held back because it was inappropriate and would have diminished Jean Dujardins chances of winning the Oscar (or was it just a publicity stunt?). The movie itself might be able to live off that controversy at first, but even after a few "shocking" moments at first, it'll have to stand on its own two feet (pun not intended).Dujardin and his partner (in crime) here show a real passion for that project. They go places you might expect them to go. But even if only Dujardin is on your radar (the other actor being very famous in France too), it is a lack of emotion for both characters and the triviality of the whole thing, that might make you want to stop watching it. The overall idea was nice and I still kind of like it, but it's anything but special ...

This is not an exceptional film. Its main quality, besides the good acting, is to explore the theme of infidelity in a manner not "socially correct". This is a movie with several skits(7 or 8) some very short, others more substantial. The characters are excessive, lovable, sympathetic or repelling, comic or depressing ...It is sometimes quite realistic, sometimes more fantastic or surrealistic, but we can find a little bit of ourself in those situations or characters.The acting is OK, and Dujardin Lellouche are excellent.A good time to spend, not necessarily with a square, except if you want to help him loosen up.