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Poster for The Valet

The Valet

Seen it?

2006 | 85 min | Comedy

Sunday Safe Bet

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

It earned strong reviews (70% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office flop and almost no lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for anyone who wants a laugh. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Light and funny.
The pace
Breezy, at 1 hr 25 min.
What might put you off
  • Rated PG-13. Probably too much for younger kids.
  • It's in French, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Caught by tabloid paparazzi with his mistress Elena, a famous and beautiful fashion model, billionaire Pierre Levasseur tries to avoid a divorce by inventing a preposterous lie. He uses the presence of a passerby in the photo to claim to his wife that it's not him Elena is seeing but the other man, one François Pignon. Pignon is a modest little man who works as a parking valet. To make the story convincing, Elena has to move in with Pignon.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsStrong

    70% on Rotten Tomatoes, 68 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesBelow par

    6.0 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Box office & staying powerWeak

    $29 million worldwide

  • Buzz & cultural impactWeak

    About 22K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Francis Veber

  • Gad ElmalehFrançois Pignon
  • Alice TaglioniÉléna Simonsen
  • Daniel AuteuilPierre Levasseur
  • Kristin Scott ThomasChristine Levasseur
  • Richard BerryMaître Foix
  • Virginie LedoyenEmilie
  • Dany BoonRichard
  • Michel JonaszAndré Pignon
  • Michel AumontDoctor
  • Laurent GamelonPaul