Mandibules (Mandibles)

Quentin Dupieux never ceases to surprise us and stays true to his approach to filmmaking that is unrealistic and based on atypical characters. Mandibules (Mandibles) his new film after Nonfilm (2001), Steak (2007), Rubber (2010), Wrong (2012), Wrong Cops (2013), Reality (2014), Keep an Eye Out! (2018), Deerskin (2019) relies on the comedy duo Palmashow (Gregoire Ludig and David Marsais).

Jean-Gab (David Marsais) and Manu (Gregoire Ludig) are two inseparable friends. While Jean-Gab works at a gas station owned by his parents, Manu has recently been kicked out of his house and is offered to carry a suitcase to a given point. After stealing a car, Manu embarks with Jean-Gab on a journey that borders on the fantastic. Indeed, in the trunk of the stolen car, they will discover a giant fly and decide to train it in the hope of winning a ton of money. These two-simplets worthy of Peter and Bobby Farrelly's cult duo Dumb and Dumber (1994) will meet a crazy man living in a trailer, a young woman Cecile (India Hair) mistaking Manu for one of her former exes and offering to join her and her friends in her family home but also several other characters.

Scripted, directed, photographed and edited by Quentin Dupieux, Mandibles is a true cinematic UFO that celebrates friendship and brings a good dose of irony. Admittedly, the length of the film means that the story lacks depth and is content to exploit to the maximum and given a reduced budget the special effects that bring this giant fly to life. However, this does not diminish the success of this film, which manages to get off the beaten track of French cinema and shows once again that it is possible to make good fantasy films in France, taking into account the financial means available and relying on confirmed actors. We can also appreciate in a hilarious role the presence of Adèle Exarchopoulos who, following a skiing accident, speaks very loudly and seems to be constantly freewheeling.

After Rubber, which featured a killer tire, Quentin Dupieux is back in the fantasy category and once again succeeds in taking us with him on an original and highly effective adventure. After its world premiere at the 77th Venice International Film Festival on September 5, 2020, Mandibles should be released this year in France. Its release has been postponed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so we hope that it will be released in theaters in June and will benefit from a real visibility and not a direct release on a streaming platform in a confidential way.

Mandibles
Written and directed by Quentin Dupieux
Produced by Hugo Sélignac, Vincent Mazel
Starring David Marsais, Grégoire Ludig, Adèle Exarchopoulos, India Hair, Roméo Elvis, Coralie Russier, Bruno Lochet
Music by Metronomy
Cinematography : Quentin Dupieux
Edited by Quentin Dupieux
Production companies : Chi-Fou-Mi Productions, Memento Films Production, C8 Films, Artemis Productions
Distributed by Memento Films Distribution (France), Magnolia Pictures (United States)
Release date : September 5, 2020 (Venice), May 19 2021 (France)
Running time : 77 minutes

Seen on March 21, 2021

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