Movie Number 15 of 2025
The Movie: A Little Something Extra (French Title: Un P'tit Truc En Plus)
The Cinema: The Palace, Elsternwick
Runtime: One hour 39 minutes
In French, English Subtitles
Stars: 4
This was an unexpected delight. Jonella and I were overdue for a catch up, so we met halfway between our houses and Jonella picked the film. She did good. This has also done very well in France, being one of the most loved films of last year.
Also, I'm always up for a French film, and this one has the added extra of being fun, funny, charming and just a very lovely way to spend the better part of two hours.
The premise is simple. A father and son (Artus and Clovis Cornillac) hold up a jewellery store. As they try to escape the police the end up joining a group of adults with disabilities, going to a summer camp, where the two pose as a resident and his carer.
It sounds a bit far-fetched.
Making this movie a complete treat is the fact that the actors are mostly intellectually disabled and get to play themselves. This is where the magic happens.
With the group are Alice (Alice Belaidi) and Celine (Celine Groussard) who ensure the group stay safe. The group, who live in assisted living together, have been going to the same country house in a very picturesque part of France for a number of years.
Over the week of the vacation, lots happens. "Orpi" the father, is trying to sort out what to do with the loot. Paulo/Sylvian, playing an intellectually disabled person, is found out by the group, who keep his secret. And you see how the men are redeemed as they gel with the group.
And sure, there's some running jokes, some which fall a bit flat. I loved that the real Sylvian, who was supposed to be on the trip ended up on a party bus bound for the south of Spain. He had a whale of a time. There's also a lot of in jokes. I loved the running theme of the Dalida lover. (If you know, you know).
By the end of the film, you've fallen in love with this loveable, kind-hearting, funny group and you'd love to spend more time with them.
One thing I will say - the film has improved my ability to swear in French. The film, written and directed by Artus, who also plays the son, also known as the fake Sylvian, has done a lovely job on this.
As a film that looks at disability, no as a weakness, but a strength, or as it says in the credits, for all the people who have something a little bit extra, this is definitely worth a look.
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