Don't Believe the Hype

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Michel (Laurent Lucas), his wife Claire (Mathilde Seigner) and their three little daughters Jeanne (Victoire de Koster), Sarah (Laurie Caminata) and Iris (Lorena Caminata) are traveling to their cottage in Switzerland to spend summer vacation. When they stop the car, Michel goes to the toilet and a man stares at him. Soon the man introduces himself as Harold "Harry" Balestoro (Sergi Lopez), who studied with Michel in high school and knows him very well. When Michel and his family go to their car, Harry parks his Mercedes Benz and introduces his fiancée Plum (Sophie Guillemin) to the couple and invites themselves to travel to Michel's house for a drink. Later her recalls by heart a poem written by Michel and shows that he was obsessed for Michel. Harry is surprised that Michel does not write anymore and tells that he is wealthy since he has inherited his father's investments. Michel and Claire are middle-class and are still repairing their cottage by themselves. Harry and Plum stay for the night in the guest room and in the morning, Harry gives a 4x4 V6 Pajero to his new friends. They do not accept but Michel needs to bring his parents to see their granddaughters and drives the truck. He brings his mother (Liliane Rovère) and his father (Dominique Rozan) that immediately recognizes Harry. He feels tension between Michel and Claire and his parents and Harry and Plum move to a nearby hotel. During the night, Harry decides to help his friend, showing that he is a psychopath that turns Michel's life upside down. "Harry, un ami qui vous veut du bien" is an impressive thriller with a lighthearted beginning that turns into a very dark story. In the release year (2000), the impact of this film was great, highlighting the top- notch direction and performances. Sergi Lopez in the role of a nice psychopath and the gorgeous Mathilde Seigner in the role of a mother with three annoying children are amazing. Presently this film is still excellent but more predictable especially if the viewer saw it once. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Harry Chegou para Ajudar" ("Harry Has Arrived to Help")

An engrossing French psychological thriller with jet black sense of humor, Director Dominik Moll has only made one other feature film, but looks very much like someone who has spent a lifetime fine tuning and constructing psychological thrillers. Moll's "With a Friend Like Harry" is a nervy, successful reworking of Hitchcockian themes and devices, with particular attention to the allure of the sociopath. On a hot day in a highway gas station men's room, a man Michel (Laurent Lucas), doesn't recognize a stranger who says they went to school together. His name is Harry, played by Sergi López. He suggests they have a drink, so he and his girlfriend follow Michel and his family to their summer place. Michel is amazed when Harry quotes from memory a poem Michel wrote in school. Harry thinks Michel is a great writer, and he's distressed that Michel hasn't written in years. Harry stays awhile, and sets out to eliminate distractions that might keep Michel from writing. The first thing Harry does for Michel--he buys him a new car despite Michel demanding that he does not. What a guy! However, this extraordinary act of kindness sets off a chain of events, and suspicious things begin to happen. Michel picks up a pen and Harry is gratified, but he's not finished being Michel's self-appointed patron. From the moment Harry is introduced to us, director Dominik Moll manages to saddle you up with an uncomfortable feeling. As the story slowly burns, it all becomes more and more unsettling. The devastating occurrences this family will endure will come from someone they've already invited into their comfort zone. And by the time they start realizing that, it's too late--and bad is already getting worse.Moll flushes develops the characterizations of the family members and their daily interactions, and wisely keeping things simple. While you start to recognize these subtleties, it enhances the awareness that Harry's abnormal behavior is seeping into the lives of these very normal people. Even in scenes where Harry is not featured, you keep him in mind, as his presence permeates, and saturates the storyline. Lòpez strikes the right note with his performance -- carefully balancing between overtly friendly to just plain crazy. At no point does he go shamelessly over the top, nor does the film really feature any excessive outbursts of violence. The mild brilliance of this film, lies with the question as to what Harry's motivation is, and what the outcome of it all will be. An intriguing, fully-engrossing psychological thriller that takes us deep into a world where answers aren't always provided. In fact, we are never sure where the plot is leading us. Mysterious, suspenseful, and a devilish sense of humor. With a friend like Harry, who needs family?

So I just watched "with a Friend like Harry" from 2000. So is it good, I say oui. This movie is slow in its build up to the suspenseful second half of the film. It is mildly humorous at times, while being quite disturbing at other times. Look movies like this you don't want to talk too much about, it is after all a suspense pic. So what I can ponder openly is the deeper meaning behind the ending, if there is one. I picked up something deeply psychological, though I could have been mistaken, but perhaps we are all a little Harry in some ways? Watch and maybe you will understand what I am getting at. So that's all I can say is if you like slightly cerebral, fresh and original, suspense flicks, that are in french then you will love this one. If you can deal with the subtitles (and everything else applies) it is a really good movie and you can't go wrong with it. if you like concise reviews of interesting films please read my other reviews at http://raouldukeatthemovies.blogspot.com/

This film is very intriguing, especially the confrontation between the crazy world of Harry and the normal world of Michel, which is characterized by typical familial problems. That Harry is a strange fellow is clear in the very beginning of the film, and as the film continues his weird sickness shows more and more. In opposition of Harry's weirdness there is the realness of Michel, who, without understanding it himself, changes and becomes influenced by Harry. The title of the film is very interesting. It is true that Harry wants the best for Michel, but what does "the best" mean? What exactly does Harry want? For some bizarre reason he wants Michel to start writing again. Perhaps he wants Michel to join him in his sick world, maybe he wants nothing to stands in the way of their relationship. In fact, Harry wants to help solve Michel's problems, and strangely enough, in the end it works. All together Harry managed to solve Michel's problems. The similitude with 'The shining' is at some point very relevant, though the story in its whole has nothing to do with it. When I watched 'Harry, un ami qui vous veut du bien', I wanted to understand the sickness of Harry, trying to understand him. At the end of the film it is clear that he is just another psychotic wacko. That is perhaps a bit a downer, because the films doesn't provide a real reason for Harry's sickness. He's just crazy, that's it. Still, the film is very intriguing. 8/10