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Can't Touch This

From its opening moments, Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano's "The Intouchables" tells us that we are in for a joy ride, even if we have no idea exactly what it is all going to be about. Driss (Omar Sy) is a black gentleman at the wheel of a sports car and he is weaving dangerously through traffic. In the passenger seat sits Philippe (Francois Cluzet), an older white gentleman who seems quietly bemused by the dangerous moves of Driss. We sit in rapt attention trying to imagine who these men are, why they are here, and in what direction we are being driven. We find out when we flashback in time and the rewards we reap are plentiful.

"The Intouchables" is a based-in-truth telling of a relationship between two men who have absolutely nothing in common, at least on paper. Driss is a young, black man from the ghetto. Philippe is a fabulously wealthy white man who is a quadriplegic. Philippe's staff is interviewing a series of gentlemen who wish to be Philippe's personal assistant. This is no easy job, entailing anything personal that you can think of as part of the job description. Driss is there not to try and win the appointment, but rather to get someone to sign his unemployment paperwork. He needs to show that he tried to get a job. He has no desire to actually work. Driss hires him.

What follows is pure delight. Both actors are perfect and the feelings they draw out of us are genuine. We end up caring about both of them. We laugh with them and at them, we get upset when they get upset. We become a part of it all. What could easily degenerate into syrup never does. It dances perfectly throughout.

Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano co-wrote and directed "The Intouchables" and they simply could not have done a better job. Both lead actors and the supporting cast also help create movie magic. It's still pretty early in the year, but it's hard to imagine that this will not be one of the very best of 2012. It's going to be tough for other films to even touch this one.