Film Review: Troops & Troop-ettes (Le gendarme et les gendarmettes,...

Film Review: Troops & Troop-ettes (Le gendarme et les gendarmettes,... | Ecency

(source: tmdb.org)

In early 1980s changes, both social and technological, were recognised as the fact of life by creators of Le Gendarme a.k.a. Troops, popular series of French comedies starring Louis De Funes. They provided the main concept for the plot of Troops & Troop-ettes, 1982 film directed by Jean Girault and sixth instalment of the series, which ultimately proved to be the last.

Louis De Funes returns in the role of Master Sergeant Ludovic Cruchot, member of National Gendarmerie brigade in St. Tropez, picturesque town at French Riviera. His unit has recently been given new offices where it is given shining new piece of equipment – computer that allows gendarmes to find all kinds of information and presumably help them in their law enforcement duties, but some of Cruchot’s men prefer to abuse it for non-professional purposes. More important is the arrival of four new female gendarmes whom Cruchot and his men are tasked to train. Arrival of “gendarmettes” create mayhem when they are all revealed to be attractive young women and some gendarmes, like Cruchot’s superior, Warrant Officer Gerber (played by Michel Galabru), begin acting foolishly. Both Cruchot and Gerber also have to deal with jealousy and suspicions of their respective wives, but things get truly serious when young trainees begin to disappear one by one, apparently targetted by mysterious abductor. Cruchot now has to use all of his ingenuity to rescue them.

Production was under the shadow of unexpected tragedy. Girault, director of all previous films and De Funes’ close friend, has suddenly fell ill on the set and died shortly afterwards. Anyone was devastated and the film was ultimately finished by Tony Aboyantz with some of De Funes’ help. Considering the circumstances and the fact that De Funes was quite old and suffering from all kinds of health problems, Troops & Troop-ettes actually turned relatively decent. Whole concept of women in position of law enforcement authority was quite feminist for its time and the film looked additionally progressive by having one of them played by black actress Nicaise Jean-Louis (although that aspect of the film was compromised by the scene featuring Cruchot’s fantasy that looks a little bit like racist stereotype from today’s perspective). In the end of the film, female gendarmes prove to be superior to their male colleagues, although this point is compromised by actresses being cast on their looks rather than acting ability. Troops & Troop-ettes, like the previous instalment The Gendarme and the Extra-Terrestrials starts as relatively weak, with lame humour and jokes that aren’t that effective. Quality improves in second half when the actual coherent plot begins to take place and the villains that appear in this film look much more convincing. Some of De Funes’ jokes are much better and the film gets ultimately rescued by appearance of France Rumilly as Sister Clotilde, who takes part in car chasing scene which features very good stunt work. Critics didn’t like the film, but the audience remained loyal to De Funes, at the time still the best and most popular French film comedian. De Funes sadly died few months after the premiere. While solid and moderately amusing, Troops & Troop-ettes nevertheless make you wish that great “Fufu” chose something better for his last big screen appearance.

RATING: 5/10 (++)