The Troops and Troop-ettes (1982)

The last movie of "Le gendarme de Saint-Tropez" franchise and the last one of the legendary Cruchot, who died the very next year. The movie is consistent with the style of its predecessors and nicely rounds the franchise. In my opinion, only the first one is better.

7,5/10

Fmovies: Comedic series usually falter down after the third opus, when even the most forgiving audience can't overlook the enormity of a half-assed script and the lousiness of half-baked gags.

But every golden rule has an exception and "The Troops of St. Tropez" series is the perfect illustration that the antidote to these detestable screen symptoms has only only ingredient: star-power. Louis de Funès was a living audience-drainer. After the 1964 hit, the team could adapt to the craziest formulas, they were fishes out of water in New York City, they got married, they were set apart and reunited, they even fought Aliens and each time, the film never attracted less than four million viewers. Neither did "The Troops and the Troopettes" despite challenging every notion of bad taste and dated humor.

Maybe it was time for the series to end. Maybe the sight of a frail-looking De Funès was an indirect reminder of the living thunderbolt he used to be. Maybe watching him trying to hold his grimaces and gesticulations was like watching the Lemmon of "Grumpy Old Men" while reminiscing "Some Like it Hot". Maybe a seventh opus would have put a deathblow on his winning streak. But the actor died three months after the release, reputation unsoiled and legacy ensured by millions of viewers and trillions of laughs. His death was a sad time for French cinema but came at a good timing because the torch was being passed to a new breed of humor, screwball Pierre Richard under Veber's sophisticated direction or biting satire with the Splendid Troop. The days of glory were over and a crisis-stricken France generated a more mature audience craving for some social commentary behind the jokes.

Even Jean Girault (who died during the filming of "Troopettes") and De Funès felt the change of wind and made a different movie with "The Cabbage Soup", a film that showed the loneliness of isolated farmers and the effects of modernity in rural France. Looking up my "Cabbage Soup" review, I said it was the penultimate movie of the old-time partners and their ultimate classic if we forgive the final "Gendarmes" movie in 1982. I'm glad I didn't say "forget" or "dismiss" but I suspect I'll be in a minority if I say that the ultimate de Funès' movie wasn't the ultimate outrage many fans claim it to be... I concede that some parts can be outrageously bad but outrageously and uninterestingly are two separate words and in-between, there is a realm of enjoyment that prompted me to wear my 'devil's advocate' coat. Sure it is a turkey but I would say, a turkey... à l'orange!

Addressing the elitist section of movie fans, cinematic purists or the cohort of cinephiles drooling over anything stamped "Nouvelle Vague", I say, yes, your honor, "The Troops and the Troopettes" is a never-ending series of outdated jokes, over-the-top tantrums and cringe-worthy exploitations of women that make Benny Hill look like Monty Python, not to mention some unnecessary racist jokes... yet there wasn't one second in the film where I was bored, which I guess is a basic accomplishment for a comedy. The first "Troops" movies had their slowest moments and their share of lame gags but they were never as daring and bold as the last onzq... and I've got to admire a movie that pushes the level of bad taste up to eleven, if it doesn't make you laugh, it finds a way to impress you. What's more

I'm a big fan of Louis de Funès, but this movie wasn't very good.

To begin with: I think the plot wasn't interesting, just another kidnapping drama that we already have seen several times. The jokes were a little silly. I think about the scene were Gerber says that Cruchot peed in his bed at the age of 14. Another example: the scene where one of the gendarmettes loses her skirt, over all I think that there was too much nudity humor.

On the positive side we have the acting. The gang from "Le gendarme et les extra-terrestres" is back with de Funès, Michel Galabru, Claude Gensac, Guy Grosso, Michel Modo, Patrick Préjean, Maurice Risch and Jacques Francois. They all make a very good job as usual. The actresses who plays the gendarmettes were okay, even if there acting wasn't breath taking.

Over all, a pretty mediocre movie. But at the same time it holds a certain atmosphere since it was the last film made by de Funès and director Jean Girault. I give it five stars.

The Troops and Troop-ettes fmovies. the end of series. and the last film of Louis de Funes. nice, predictable, seductive, a new idea who becomes pretext for new adventures, large doses of humor, Saint Tropez atmosphere and a great job of de Funes. few scenes - Karl Marx as lecture of a nun, beautiful troop-ettes and the romantic scene between Germaine and Ludovic are good points of a series who seems be the same but far to be boring. because all is charming - dialogues, gestures, story, confusions. and nostalgia is the perfect package for an easy story, naive and fresh , so far by present but useful for remember to it the basic truths.

Well, we have the last film about famous French policemen. We may ask if it will enchant us with something new. Actually yes. Everyone who has seen previous parts and enjoyed them should take a look at this one.

In my opinion, the plot isn't boring. As for humour, you won't be let down. However, I must admit that some of stuff is pretty similar to that seen before. But after all it is a small drawback and of course Louis de Funes did a good job as usual. It is one of the last films with him (or even the last one!).

On the whole, we get a sensible end of the serial. I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

Officer Ludovic Cruchot's(Louis De Funes) along with his outfit(Maurice Risch, Grosso and the chief, Michael Galabru, though isn't Jean Lefevre) are transferred to new and modern Gendarmerie Nationale with computer included. When appear four Gendarmettes the gendarmes group is revolutionized. Then two Gendarmettes are kidnapped by an issue of secret codes and Cruchot goes into action. He's secretly moving in disguise, dressing as woman.

This agreeable French comedy about the sympathetic gendarmes contains enjoyable humor, brief intrigue, too much fun and lively situations. There's a certain critical to the French customs and especially a banter of French Police called Gendarmerie. Louis De Funes, as always overacting , he puts faces, grimaces, stooges, tongue twister and lots of gesticulation . This is a pretty amusing farce with the master comic Funes in his usual role. Claude Gensac as his habitual wife, she collaborated with Funes in ten films, often acting his character's spouse. Fine local photography and atmospheric musical score with catching leitmotif by Raymond Lefevre. The motion picture is well made by customary director, Jean Girault. Picture is a Funes vehicle, he's a real comic and authentic farceur. If you like Funes' crazy interpretation you'll enjoy this one. This is the last picture from Cruchot series, another films are : The Gendarme and the creatures from outer space; The Gendarme takes off; The Gendarme get married; Gendarme in N.Y. and the classic, The Gendarme of St. Tropez.