Reviled by many critics, loved by a solid minority, I ended up in between, but leaning more towards the positive. This is odd absurdist fun (described by one critic as 'Waiting for Godot' meets the New York Post). But the key word is fun. It doesn't feel "good for you", or like a stern lecture on the moral emptiness of modern life. Blier is too goofy for that. So, yes, he comments on how violence has taken over our urban world, how isolated we all are, etc. But he makes you laugh in the process, with sometimes almost 'Three Stooges' like levels of silliness. 'Little Murders' comes to mind, but I enjoyed this more. Yes, it gets repetitive at moments, but the acting (Gerard Depardieu, Bernard Blier, Jean Carmet) is very good, the look (which echoes – I think intentionally – the cold, sharp modern world of 'Clockwork Orange') is terrific, and for every scene that doesn't work, there are a couple that do. Is this great, important film-making? Probably not. But I'd sure as hell rather watch this sort of playful, hyper black comedy of ideas than most of what comes out of Hollywood these days.

Some viewers think this dark comedy is "boring" and "disappointing". Granted, this movie is not for everybody. But to say that nobody would like it is purely idiotic. Nobody has the same humor, and you cannot generalize when it comes to such variable parameters. To me, Buffet Froid is the quintessential black comedy, and it made me laugh from start to ending, despite its slow tempo and absurd-like tone. If I had to compare it with American dark comedies, I would say Fargo comes pretty close. I would also suggest the following movies for those who enjoyed Buffet Froid: Barton Fink, Happiness, Delicatessen, Dr Strangelove, Carne, Cible Emouvante and Man Bites Dog.

This is one of my favorite black comedies, on a level with Strangelove, After Hours, The Loved One, Little Murders and Cul de Sac. A kind of Three Stooges meets Samuel Beckett, it successfully traverses farce, slapstick, absurdism, and intellectual existential psychodrama. The stooges are hilarious, particularly Bernard Blier, the great French character actor (and father of director,) while the women are all in danger but really in control of this careening nightmare. The shift 3/4ths of the way through from the surreal city nightscape into the sunny countryside is brilliant and leads to a perfect ending...

BUFFET FROID is a masterpiece, nothing else. Director Bertrand Blier uses his talent mostly in the dialogues. One catch phrase after another, the screenplay is full of surprises. And don't try to expect something because surely it will be the opposite. Depardieu is terrific with a lot of flegme and energy. Since this cult movie, Blier tried to do the same over and over again. But this is truly the original one.