lasttimeisaw My second Tati's film after PLAYTIME (1967, 9/10), MR. HULOT'S HOLIDAY is when the titular character, Tati's on-screen proxy, was introduced for the first time, a tall, polite, convivial and slightly ungainly gentleman, whose silhouette resembles an adult version of Tintin, drives with his cramped jalopy, but his eyes flicker self-possessed wisdom and unlike the modernistic urban spectacle in the PLAYTIME, this film is confined to a specified rural location, among miscellaneous characters, Mr. Hulot is the prominent player and seamless skits climates with a spectacular hoot of fireworks. Tati is a sterling humorist, a punctilious life observer, but never an orderly storyteller, so this beach side vocation is a laid-back assemblage of stunts stemming from sheer coincidence, mindless slips or distractions, antics with deadpan seriousness, classic slapstick and precisely calculated gags. The master strokes are plentiful, in particular, the magic paint bucket which wondrously floats with the tides to the very spots uncannily when Mr. Hulot is painting a canoe, which later snaps in half in the middle of the water, this entails intricate camera-work to bring to fruition of all Tati's quirky mind's eye. The black humor emitted from a tire-and-wreath blooper and the subsequent handshake consolation is pitch-perfect and timeless. Also it is a riot to be amused by the prank of Hulot's invincible serving in the tennis match, all connote that Tati is not only, a steady successor of comedy masters like Chaplin, Keaton, but also a trend-setter of his own trademark humanistic concern conflated with Gallo-sense of satire. Each day kicks off with light jazz fusions then randomly follows the recreation of the tourists, which concocts a kaleidoscope of people's mindset at then and unremittingly tickles our ribs with Tati's witty, unsophisticated, knowing gimmicks which ruefully reminisce us comedies can also be stylish and virtuous, furthermore compel us to lament what's wrong with the present hurly-burly of comedy, is it true that our public taste of humor has plummeted that deep? Modern potboiler-makers, please regress to the masters of yore for inspiration and stop inculcating us with bawdy, vulgar and unhealthy duds.

rpvanderlinden Oh, why do I love this movie so much? It must be its bright, sun-drenched beach setting, its sunny disposition, its sweet optimism and untempered innocence, its cheerful, gentle depiction of a bygone era when a disparate group of folk gather to vacation at a funky Gallic seaside resort. Whatever it is, this 1953 farce fills me with joy every time I see it. It was my wide-eyed introduction to French comic Jacques Tati eons ago.It's obvious that Tati was an inveterate people-watcher. He depicts the foibles and peccadilloes of his eclectic array of characters with insight, charm and wit. Tati's view of humanity is both loving and generous. His main character, M. Hulot (played by M. Tati), is a somewhat daffy and eccentric bumbler who interacts with the other characters and lurches about leaving havoc in his wake. There's no plot to speak of, just a series of comic and nostalgic vignettes that segue effortlessly from one to the next.This is the kind of comedy where you feel compelled to recount your favorite funny moments afterwards. Is it the recalcitrant horse, the gravity-prone mass of taffy, the ping-pong ball that propels Hulot to throw a peaceful card game into chaos, Hulot's wildly eccentric, but brutal, tennis serve that decimates his opponents, the deflatable wreath at the funeral, the restless tiger-skin rug, the suspense-ridden trek of the little boy holding the two ice-cream cones? You name your own.I tittered, I chuckled, I laughed heartily and, occasionally, I guffawed. Yet there is a tinge of sadness at the finale as the activities wane, the guests depart and the hotel is shuttered up. Another endless summer finally ends. "See you next year!" is the parting refrain. "See you next time!" I say of this movie treasure.

Tim Kidner As I review quite a lot of the films I own or see, the number of times one refers to a character, or style that is Tati-esque, or Tati-like, that I really thought I should remind myself of the great man's possibly greatest and most influential film.This being one of the first 'foreign' dvds I bought, I've seen hundreds, if not thousands of films since and of course, one sees things in different contexts and with new references the more one experiences.So, coming home stressed and feeling a little ill, I got this golden gem out and to let its naive charm soothe and gently amuse me. I wasn't after laugh-a-second hysterics that demanded all of me but something where I could follow Mr Hulot's adventures if I so wished, or otherwise - and it wouldn't matter - one can dip and out of Mr Hulot's Holiday like ones toe in the resort waters, that Tati's comedy figure goes to. Tati's age at this point in his career surprised me slightly - I always got the impression of an older man than he is here.Yes, it's almost certainly true that films and comedy will never be made like this again - and before someone cries 'shame!!' I have to say to the contrary; time, fashions, mood and comedy move on. Show this now to the average family who would supped it up with relish when it was released would now just look at each other, perplexed and I bet that soon, it would be switched off.However, from a film-lover's point of view, we learn to see beyond the surface and be broad-minded enough to see why it worked and how those elements can still touch us. We have our beloved DVDs of Mr Tati and the like and let's appreciate them now, as they were, not as how today's society and audience would.Jacques Tati may not roll off the roll-call of comedy greats as readily as Chaplin, Keaton or Laurel & Hardy, but in many ways, he has been just as influential. So, lap up the best of Tati, here!

Monos Z. M. Hulot is about well; M. hulot's holiday. That is the extent of the movie's plot. At the holiday M. Hulot gets into all kinds of trouble and is the bumbling fool.I guess this was the first in the series of such kind of movies. You can see how heavily Mr. Bean was influenced by this movie.At the beginning there are a couple of moments that are really funny but the rest is carried on by the charm of the movie. You have a light smile throughout the movie. And even though the movie is black and white it still seems as if it is filled with colour. The characters in this movie are so well sketched that everything is lovely and filled with excitement.The dialogue is limited and it mostly limited to a couple of sight gags in a row. And this is the first in a series. So I am looking forward to the others. Taiti's film is good one for a quiet afternoon. It will transport you back to your childhood days. Days, weeks, and hours spent watching similar movies and laughing at every single things. I wish I had seen this movie as a child. I would have enjoyed it more.