Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
A writer of pulpy book series in which he's the hero and his beautiful English roommate is the love interest attempts to finish his new book in time at the publisher's demand.
Jean-Paul Belmondo's self-referential comedy about a pulp writer who daydreams himself as his own action hero is a charming concept that blends parody and romance effectively. The meta-fictional premise gives it a distinctive French flavor, and Belmondo's physical comedy carries much of the film. However, the cinematography is functional rather than inspired, and the ending resolves too neatly without much punch, feeling rushed compared to the lively middle sections. The spy-spoof sequences are fun but somewhat repetitive, and the overall execution is solid mid-tier French comedy-action rather than a standout.