Cruising Bar (Version française)

if you are from quebec, and if you're "francophone" on top of it, chances are you'll give this a very, very strong review. it is in fact a french quebec classic. i always get a kick out of seeing people's reaction when i tell them that the same actor (michel côté) plays all four main characters in the movie. usually they'll then go back and watch it again, having gained a new appreciation for it . . . for, while the humor is strongly cultural and therefore holds less appeal for those outside its cultural circle, everyone can watch it to marvel at how perfectly michel côté plays each separate role, to the point of creating a unique walk, accent, facial expressions and body language for each of the four personas he plays.

plotwise, on the surface it's simply about four completely different guys (who don't know each other), each getting ready to go out on the same saturday night, with hopes hooking up with a member of the opposite sex, and about how each of their nights go (each ends in failure . . . utter catastrophe in some cases). underneath, it's about "la condition humaine" . . . how humans are social creatures who are driven to partner up, and the impact their insecurities have on this quest.

like all foreign films, the movie loses a lot if you watch a translated version, because you lose the cultural subtleties that make the movie great. simple translation of words only works on a very basic level of understanding. anyone from quebec will love this movie . . . but then again, i doubt anyone from quebec hasn't seen it. for everyone else, give it a whirl, but watch it in french with english subtitles, rather than translated into english . . . and at the very least watch one actor interpret four completely different roles so well that many have no clue they're watching the same actor until they're informed of the fact.

- MK

This is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen and one of the most original. The stellar work of one actor playing all four major characters is unbelievable to see. The first time I saw it I didn't find out until the credits at the end it was the same actor. It is funny and sad and real all at the same time. A truly wonderful movie which deserves world-wide distribution and praise. A gem.

This movie is absolutly hilarious. Michel Cote does a wonderful job playing all four leading parts. Bravo!