12 ans d'âge (60 Going on 12) (French)

Who is to say that life doesn’t begin at 60.  We live through decade after decade and keep saying, “Life begins at X (read 30, 40 or whatever)”.  I am going to be saying exactly that in about 15 months from now when I turn into a quadragenarian (40 years old for those who are unaware).

So why cannot Charles (François Berléand) and Pierrot (Patrick Chesnais) say the same when they retire from work at the ripe young age of 60.  They have been best of buddies all through life and decide to have fun when they can by doing things that they have never done before.  Therefore the name 60 Going on 12 (in English).  In French it is simply put 12 years of age (12 ans d'âge).

So Charles and Pierrot – more Pierrot than Charles – decided to do things that qualify as “fun”.  So for e.g. they walk into a restaurant and have a full 4 course meal or whatever it is that costs the most.  And Pierrot then doubles up and pretends to have a heart attack right there.  Of course, panic ensues and the restaurant ensures that Pierrot is escorted safely out – without paying the bill.  Now how many of us have wanted to do that?

Pierrot decides for Charles that 60 is not too old to learn how to drive and that it is a matter of embarrassment.  So what if he cannot drive faster than a cyclist?  All of this is transposed over Pierrot’s promiscuity and Charles’ marriage that is held together despite all the stress that the women in the house are put through.  There are times when Charles gets back home way past bed time and piss drunk and yet the marriage chugs along.

There are some wonderful dialogues – at least in the subtitles they seemed wonderful.  I would not know if the French dialogues were that good.  For e.g. when Pierrot asks Cathy (Florence Thomassin) to move in with him and she refuses, Pierrot replies, “Its not like milk right? Moving in doesn’t have an expiry date”.  And the manner in which Pierrot says it personifies his focus on having a good time without getting into commitments.

12 ans d'âge is a fun movie.  There are loads of pranks played by both characters who I must say, albeit cornily, are in character all through the movie.  There is a sense of commitment from both François Berléand & Patrick Chesnais.  It is as if they wanted to actually have so much fun themselves that their roles turned out to be much more real than what they intended it to be.

I loved the movie because it made me feel light.  Especially so on a Sunday morning at 1030 when I needed the right boost.  It was non-stop fun albeit with a serious end.  It taught me how to take life a bit more in jest.  It showed me just the way I would like to get out of this world – in a blaze and not with a whimper.  You will love it for sure.  Try and watch it if you get a chance.  7 on 10.

Watch the trailer on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojqhskrJs_U