May 14, 2001

 

WITH A FRIEND LIKE HARRY

  Mike's Comment
of the Week
     
  Cool Site of the Week
     
  Comment Archives
     
  Industry Links
     
     
     
     
     
 
SEARCH
  Send us e-mail
    Mail Us
 

When the cinemaplexes don't deliver--and they HAVEN'T delivered much this year--go visit the art houses. Chances are, you'll find something you'll like, and these days, you just might encounter this retro psychological thriller. Deliberate in pacing and chock full of mood, this pic doesn't need a mad slasher to keep you in suspense. The French have a word for it, and so do we: mordant.

As the movie opens, Michel (Laurent Lucas), his wife Claire (Mathlide Seigner), and their three little girls, are trapped in a hot car, en route to their fixer-upper place in the country. Needing a pit stop, and a short respite from his whining brood, Michel stops at a service area along the highway.

In the men's room, he is recognized by Harry (Sergi López), an old high school chum. Although Michel can barely remember him, Harry recalls quite a bit of detail on Michel--that his father was a dentist, that they dated some of the same girls, and that Michel wrote a few articles and poems for the school's literary magazine.

Sensing that wealthy playboy Harry might offer a break from the routine, Michel offers little resistance when Harry invites himself and girlfriend Plum (Sophie Guillemin) over to their farmhouse.

At first, Harry seems like an affable, if strangely aggressive guy. That night, at dinner, Harry is surprised to find that Michel never told Claire about his writing. In fact, Harry is able to recite, from memory, a rakish fantasy poem of Michel's. He then mentions Michel's unfinished sci-fi project--The Flying Monkeys. Harry and Plum will spend that night at Michel's farmhouse.

Awakened in the wee hours after dreaming of the flying monkeys, Michel sees Harry in the kitchen, sucking on a raw egg. Harry explains that he is in the habit of consuming a raw egg after each orgasm. More than that, he says that all problems can and should be solved, and that he is here to help. It doesn't take a whole lot of insight for Harry to observe that Michel has a few problems, resulting in his banal, almost claustrophobic existence.

Next morning, noting that Michel's car is becoming a junker, Harry buys the couple a brand new SUV. A great gift, to be sure, but maybe a wee bit excessive? At this point, Harry emerges as Michel's alter ego. One problem has been solved, but there are more, and Harry is quite willing to solve them. Michel seems inclined to go along for the ride, and pick up the testosterone transfusion while he's at it.

Many critics have made the comparison to Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train (1951), but there are more differences than similarities. Strangers involves a murder conspiracy proposed by Bruno, whereby they will each kill the other's nemesis. Guy, however, never accepts the deal, and is horrified when he finds out that Bruno actually went through with it. In addition, far from being the perfect crime as envisioned by Bruno, Guy is soon implicated in the slaying. Strangers has a much stronger homoerotic undertone, and it has no elements of dark humor like Harry. At no time could one consider Bruno the alter ego of Guy. Finally, claustrophobia is the key to Harry, and has no part in Strangers.

With a Friend Like Harry provides loads of fun, as we watch how things work themselves out; and let's just say that the denouement is way more satisfying than Strangers On A Train.


 

Last Update:
Copyright ©1996 - 2002 Interscan Corporation. All rights reserved.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.