Intouchables

Intouchables, the most successful French comedy film of 2011 and the second most successful ever, depicts one very unorthodox patient/nurse relationship.

Meet Driss--young, obnoxious, shamelessly living on welfare and freshly back on the street after six months spent... elsewhere. With little ambition and even fewer employment prospects, he crashes a job interview for the position of stay-at-home nurse for a wealthy tetraplegic, simply wanting them to acknowledge his attendance and rejection so he can remain on benefits.

But when Philippe, the tetraplegic in question, takes a shine to Driss' blunt and pitiless demeanour in front of Driss and his bedside manners that would make Gregory House proud, he decides to hire Driss on trial, betting that "he won't last two weeks".

Hilarity Ensues.

The Weinstein Company, which distributed it in the US with less than memorable results is said to be preparing an americanized remake titled Untouchable.


 * Blue Blood: Philippe.
 * Brutal Honesty: Driss' shtick.
 * Did Not Get the Girl: Played straight with Driss, with flavour. Subverted with Philippe, as he first refuses, then finally accepts to meet Eleonore at the end.
 * Dr. Jerk
 * Don't You Dare Pity Me!: What makes Philippe want to hire Driss.
 * Establishing Character Moment: You know what kind of person is Driss just by his rather rude behaviour in recruitment scene.
 * Gilligan Cut: More than once, Driss says there's no way he's doing something, only to end up doing it a few moments later.
 * Heroes Want Redheads: Driss' affection toward Magalie
 * How We Got Here
 * Important Shaving: Philippe stop shaving (well, at least he didn't let anyone to shave him) after . When they are back together, his unkempt beard is shaven by Driss.
 * Part of the shaving is Played for Laughs, leaving Philippe with a few ridiculous moustaches for a while.
 * In Medias Res
 * Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Played with. Driss can put Gregory House to shame with his rude behaviour. On the other hand, he's a genuinely caring and charming person, whose sense of humour carries the whole film, and who takes a great deal of time and effort making people around him feel better. By any means necessary.
 * Lampshade Hanging: Quite a few.
 * Pair the Spares: . It's even lampshaded by Driss.
 * Scary Black Man: Taking into consideration his posture, strength and, Driss does fit this trope nicely.
 * True Art Is Incomprehensible: Invoked, discussed, and subverted. Driss doesn't really understand modern art, to the point when he heavily mocks it; then he tries his hand at abstract painting. He starts with the intent of making a mockery out of it, but the painting itself turns out quite profitable when Philippe sells it as the work of an "up-and-coming artist" - to mess with the snobby, snooty people he buys art from.
 * True Art Is Incomprehensible: Invoked, discussed, and subverted. Driss doesn't really understand modern art, to the point when he heavily mocks it; then he tries his hand at abstract painting. He starts with the intent of making a mockery out of it, but the painting itself turns out quite profitable when Philippe sells it as the work of an "up-and-coming artist" - to mess with the snobby, snooty people he buys art from.