

Movie spotlight
Start the Revolution Without Me
Two sets of identical twins are accidentally switched at birth. One pair, Phillipe and Pierre DeSisi, are aristocratic and haughty, while the other, Charles and Claude Coupé, are poor and dim-witted. On the eve of the French Revolution, both sets find themselves entangled in palace intrigue.
Insights
Plot Summary
In 18th-century France, two bumbling look-alikes, a peasant named Jerome and a nobleman named Charles, are mistaken for each other amidst the rumblings of revolution. Jerome, a simple peasant, is thrust into the role of a nobleman and must navigate the treacherous waters of courtly intrigue and revolutionary fervor. Meanwhile, Charles, a spoiled aristocrat, finds himself among the common folk, experiencing a life he never imagined. Their mistaken identities lead to a series of hilarious mishaps and chaotic events as they inadvertently become central figures in the impending French Revolution.
Critical Reception
The film received mixed to negative reviews from critics, with many finding its humor broad and its plot somewhat nonsensical. While Gene Wilder and Donald Sutherland's performances were often highlighted as a positive, the overall execution failed to impress most reviewers, leading to its status as a lesser-known film from the era.
What Reviewers Say
The film's slapstick comedy and farcical plot were divisive, appealing to some but alienating many.
Gene Wilder and Donald Sutherland's comedic chemistry was a standout, though not enough to salvage the weak script.
Critics found the movie's attempts at satire and revolution-themed humor to be largely unsuccessful and dated.
Google audience: Audiences found the film to be a silly, if occasionally amusing, comedy, with some enjoying the performances of the lead actors while others found the humor to be too broad and the plot too convoluted.
Fun Fact
Gene Wilder and Donald Sutherland both played two distinct characters in the film, mirroring each other in appearance and in their swapped societal roles.
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