Pierre (played by Thierry L'hermitte) is excited because he thinks he's going to win by bringing the biggest idiot to a friend's weekly dinner party. The idiot he's going to bring is Francois (played by Jacques Villeret who also played the same character in the stage production of the play this film is based on!) whose passion is building models with matches. BTW, Jacques Villeret died in 2005 and he somewhat reminds me a bit of the American comedian Dom DeLuise who died in 2009.
When Pierre hurts his back playing golf, he has to miss the weekly dinner but he still ends up spending the whole evening with his "idiot" and learns that even "idiots" have something to teach him.
This French comedy pokes fun at many aspects of French society including the snobbish selfishness of the well-to-do, tax auditors, and infidelity.
BTW, this film came out in about 1998 and about 12 years later in 2010, an American film with a very similar plot was released titled Dinner for Schmucks. In this film Steve Carell plays Barry, the idiot who loves to be creative with dead mice. There are a few lines that are exactly the same as the earlier French film. Paul Rudd is Tim, the main character whose ambition motivates him to find an idiot for his boss's dinner. His love interest Julie is played by French-American actress Stephanie Szostak and her eccentric, sexy artist client Kieran is played by New Zealand actor Jemaine Clement.
The American film has more characters and more comedy.
Here are some quotes from this film:
"Did your sore back make you deaf?"---Christine (played by Alexandra Vandernoot)
"But he's an idiot! Idiots are fair game."---Pierre
"Icebag and rest. Or you'll be out for three weeks."---Dr. Sorbier (played by Christian Pereira)
"Sometimes I feel like you think I'm an idiot."---Francois
"Pierre, it's Juste. I wondered about the Belgian weirdo. Then realized you're looking for your wife. Ask me yourself without the accent. Bye."---Juste (played by Francis Huster)
"Cheval's no retard. He's our best inspector. Let him loose in this apartment and he'll strip it!"---Francois
"Cheval would audit his own mother."---Francois
"I've worked like a dog so I wouldn't have to drink cheap wine. I only have great wines. Or water."---Pierre
"You're nice. But he's a bastard! One hell of a bastard."---Marlene (played by Catherine Frot)
Here are some scenes from this film:
Here's the official trailer of this film:
