So much average

Powerful

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

One of the film's great tricks is that, for a time, you think it will go down a rabbit hole of unrealistic glorification.

Ghislain Lambert's Bicycle is not a simple film about cycling.It is a film about one of the life's little heroes who does not give up.Although there are numerous references to lives of cyclists and races,there is no documentary footage in the film.Director Philippe Harel has presented his film as a work of fiction with numerous intelligent episodes involving Ghislain,his brother,his friends and his wife.If the current generation is aware of cycling and its exploits then it might be due to the popularity of American cyclist Lance Armstrong.He brought so much glory to the sport.However,it was a different story in seventies.It was a time when Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx was the true king of cycling.This was also the time when our eponymous hero Ghislain Lambert started to pedal.However,he was not able to achieve fame and glory as achieved by Eddy.This did not deter him to marry the girl of his choice and have children.Lastly, if a viewer is looking for a nice film about sports,one need not travel far as 'Le vélo de Ghislain Lambert' is a perfect choice which fluctuates between comedy and drama.

The intricacies behind bicycle races, a sport that is so popular in Europe, is the subject of this Belgian entry. The film explores the behind the scenes incidents and what really goes on in the races, as Ghislain Lambert, an ambitious man, tries his luck at a competition he loves, but one which was not good for him, as his hope for fabulous victories, always eluded him.The best excuse for watching the film is Benoit Poelvoorde, a Belgian actor that has been seen in comic parts frequently. This is a stretch for this actor, and he proves he is also a performer that attracts the attention of his fans. The film was directed by Philippe Harel, based on the screenplay written by the director, Mr. Poelvoorde and Olivier Dazat.Basically, this is a feel good movie, even though the man at the center of the story is an antihero. Our hopes are with Ghislain, even though we feel he is not up to some of the runners which he competes against. Even though we realize what Lambert is undergoing, we root for him to come home a champion. But in a way, he was a winner.

If you're into the Tour de France culture, this is probably a pretty suitable movie for you. If you couldn't care less like me, there really isn't much left. The love plot in this movie is as standard as they get, and Ghislain Lambert is not the likable character the director thought he was portraying. In fact he's quite annoying. The movie is not slow, but it is in fact boring. There's a lot of stuff happening throughout, but none of it is interesting to me because I can't stand most of these characters. This movie has some qualities though. The cinematography is pretty good and the atmosphere of cycling is captured pretty well, as far as I can judge that. Apart from that, I don't care for it.

Once again, Benoît Poelvoorde proves to us that he is a great actor. He plays Ghislain Lambert, a second class professional cyclist whose role in the team is to support the leader. Poelvoorde makes the jump from comedy to drama and is able to play with our emotions. The movie shows us, in a very realistic manner, the "backstage" of professional cycling, and at the same time maintains its sense of humor. Don't worry, even if you're not into this sport, this movie will never bore you....If you enjoy Poelvoorde as an actor, I also recommend watching "Les convoyeurs attendent". Poelvoorde is never as good as he is when he plays common people.