Film review: My Best Friend’s Girl

Even if the dialogue is ‘of its time’ fruity at best, there are considerable acting talents on show in Bertrand Blier’s 1983 comedy set in a snowbound Courchevel – making it the perfect romcom to get you in the mood for a winter skiing holiday.

A smooth charmer and hopeless romantic, ski instructor Pascal (Thierry Lhermitte) has just fallen head over heels for Viviane (Isabelle Huppert) and he quickly – extremely quickly – introduces her to Micky (Coluche), his nightclub DJ friend of 10 years. 

On the face of it, Micky doesn’t seem impressed but he, too, is enamoured by Viviane. “You’re not falling in love with me, are you?” she says, with Micky shrugging off her insinuation with faux insouciance. The inevitable happens – they sleep together and get spotted by Pascal, who keeps his counsel.

Cue a comedy of manners and soul-searching, in which the ‘sad clown’ Coluche excels, as does Huppert as the immodest, bitchy Viviane. The dénouement, involving a fourth wheel added to this ménage-à-trois, is surprisingly touching.

While this is by no means Blier’s best work (Les Valseuses, Buffet Froid), it stands up as an enjoyable comedy of manners, the kind that the French do so well. Not available for streaming but available to buy on DVD.

Also out: Dix Pour Cent

With news that the Paris acting agency comedy will be made into a film, catch up on all episodes on Prime Video.