Long available only as an import in Canada, Maple brings Francis Veber's film version of his hysterical play back in print, and while this domestic release sports French-only sleeve art, the DVD does indeed contain an English subtitle track.

Structured as a brisk, absurd comedy of errors and blunders, the success of the film really relies on the fast delivery of dialogue and timed nuances, all tightly delivered by the film's cast of prominent actors. Thierry Lhermitte is appropriately arrogant as Pierre Brochant, the scheming publisher initially giddy for discovering a ‘world class' idiot, and Jacques Villeret ensures said idiot – a government tax auditor named Francois Pignon who builds famous structures from matches– remains sympathetic, regardless of what disasters he creates (and some are lulus).

Veber's script is very clear in that all of Brochant's subsequent ills come from his desire and determination to bring poor Pignon to this monstrous dinner, and he truly deserves to be tormented by Pignon's periodic moments of grand stupidity. Veber lets Luciano Tovoli's camera linger just long enough for us to absorb Brochant's massive reaction of total horror when a simple telephone call (actually several) inirially follows the right path, and then veers off the tracks when Pignon forgets the plan, his own identity, and bungles Brochant's efforts to reconcile matters with his wife Christine, his mistress Marlene, and best friend Francis, from whom he coveted his then girlfriend Christine.

Maple's transfer is first-rate, and horror fans will undoubtedly scratch their heads when they see Luciano Tovoli's name in the credits, and wonder how the cinematographer of Dario Argento's Suspiria (1977) and Tenebre (1982) made the move from violent horror films to Francis Veber's witty French comedies. Tovoli's lighting is simple, elegant, and flatters the luxurious two-level set that ensures Pignon is reduced to a small pudgy man ensnared in a rich man's game of bait and catch.

Vladimir Cosma's score is extremely sparse, but his vocal and instrumental main theme renditions are bouncy little gems that encapsulate Brochant's dilemma of a simple man's stupidity outwitting his cruel, self-serving plan, and arguably the future of further dinner games.

Veber has made significant use of characters named Francois Pignon, including L'emmerdeur / A Pain in the A… (1973), Les comperes / ComDads (1983), Les fugitifs (1986), Le placard / The Closet (2001), and La doublure / The Valet (2006).

Maple's DVD of The Dinner Game is identical to the American bare bones U.S. release, whereas a French Region 2 edition includes French and English 5.1 dub tracks, a stills gallery, and trailers.

© 2008 Mark R. Hasan