The Valet (2006 film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | Francis Veber |
| Products | Comedy film |
The Valet () is a 2006 French-language comedy film crafted and helmed by Francis Veber, featuring performances by Gad Elmaleh, Alice Taglioni, Daniel Auteuil, and Kristin Scott Thomas. The storyline revolves around a parking attendant who is hired to impersonate the romantic partner of a renowned fashion model, aiming to distract from her secret relationship with a married businessman. The movie enjoyed commercial success both in France and the United States.
The original film inspired the 2009 Hindi adaptation titled Do Knot Disturb, which subsequently influenced the 2014 Punjabi film Disco Singh and the 2016 Bengali production Haripad Bandwala. An English-language remake, also named The Valet, premiered on 20 May 2022 via Hulu.
Plot
Pierre Levasseur, an affluent executive based in Paris, is engaged in a clandestine affair with prominent model Elena Simonsen. When a paparazzo captures them departing from their secret rendezvous, the image makes front-page news, leading Pierre’s wife, Christine, to confront him. Pierre denies any association with Elena; however, Elena insists he must choose between her and his spouse. Since Christine owns the majority share of Pierre’s company, divorcing her could jeopardize his wealth. His attorney, Maître Foix, proposes locating the unidentified man in the photograph to pose as Elena’s partner.
This man is François Pignon, a parking valet who harbors feelings for Émilie, a bookstore owner who has turned down his marriage proposal due to financial concerns. Maître Foix tracks down François and offers him payment to allow Elena to move in and pretend they are a couple. François consents, requesting exactly 32,450 euros—the sum needed to settle Émilie’s debts. Elena demands a deposit of 20 million euros, which she promises to return once Pierre leaves his wife. Elena moves into François’s residence, displacing his roommate Richard; although initially overwhelmed, François and Elena soon develop a friendship.
Christine remains doubtful and exploits the situation to incite jealousy. Émilie feels hurt seeing François with Elena but later understands the truth and appreciates François’s support, ultimately accepting his proposal.
Christine secretly records Pierre refusing to leave her and offering them a second honeymoon. She forwards this recording to Elena, prompting her decision to end things with Pierre. Elena sends François to inform Pierre, who reacts by angrily canceling the transfer of 20 million euros. François reveals that Elena anticipated this outcome and never intended to keep the money, signifying she departs without financial gain. The film concludes with François walking away as a cross-dressing prostitute approaches Pierre; both are captured by paparazzi.
Production
The character François Pignon also appears as the lead in screenwriter-director Francis Veber's earlier films Les Compères (1983), The Dinner Game (1998), and The Closet (2001), though each iteration differs in personality. A nod to The Dinner Game occurs when François gifts his father André a corkscrew for his birthday; André mentions being invited to dinner to discuss his corkscrew collection.
Filming took place on location across Boulogne-Billancourt, Neuilly-sur-Seine, and Puteaux, all situated within the département of Hauts-de-Seine.
Critical reception
Stephen Holden of The New York Times lauded the film as "a delightful comedy," recognizing Francis Veber as a virtuoso of contemporary French farce, notable for its "precise structure and meticulously designed twists." He observed that the film’s satire on vanity, greed, and desire mirrors a traditional social framework where moral integrity is rewarded and arrogance is unmasked.
Mick LaSalle from the San Francisco Chronicle described it as "an entertaining farce" supported by a talented ensemble, though he commented that its 80-minute runtime felt somewhat rushed. LaSalle suggested that Veber encountered difficulties in devising a compelling conclusion, leading to a swift ending that contributed to the film’s brief impression despite its overall enjoyment.
Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times highlighted Veber’s proficiency in comedy, referring to him as a master of cinematic farce. Turan commended Veber’s impeccable timing and his skill in orchestrating the cast like components of a finely tuned mechanism, resulting in humor that is both sharp and captivating.
Variety’s Lisa Nesselson noted that although the film occasionally seemed mechanical, Veber succeeded once again in delivering an amusing comedy with an engaging concept and gratifying humor.
Box office
The movie debuted in France and Belgium on March 20, 2006, and was showcased at prominent festivals such as the Moscow Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, ShoWest, and Cleveland International Film Festival. Its limited release in the United States occurred on April 20, 2007. The film earned $1,926,800 domestically and $27,400,068 internationally, culminating in a global total of $29,326,868.
Accolades
Dany Boon earned a nomination for the César Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, while Alice Taglioni secured the NRJ Ciné Award for Actress of the Year.
Remakes
The original was adapted into Hindi as Do Knot Disturb (2009), starring Govinda, Sushmita Sen, Riteish Deshmukh, and Lara Dutta. This version subsequently inspired the Punjabi film Disco Singh (2014) and the Bengali production Haripad Bandwala (2016).
An English-language remake titled The Valet (2022 film) was developed following DreamWorks’ initial acquisition of rights after 2006 with the Farrelly Brothers attached; however, that project did not progress. In 2014, Eugenio Derbez obtained the remake rights. By 2018, Rob Greenberg and Bob Fisher were enlisted to write and direct this new adaptation starring Derbez. The remake premiered on Hulu in May 2022.