Rating: 
Summary: The Second Coming Of Mr. Hulot
Review: 'My Uncle' is that rare case in movies where a sequel bests its predecessor. In 'Mr. Hulot's Holiday,' Tati took us away from the hustle and bustle of city living for a week's holiday by the sea. In 'My Uncle,' he takes us through the rigors of daily living, and introduces us to his family. We learn he has a sister, Mrs. Arpel (Adrienne Servantie), whose husband (Jean-Pierre Zola) is an upper level manager at a plastics factory. Their son, Jimmy (Alain Becourt), is a boy who never seems to enjoy anything at home unless his uncle is visiting. There is a very simple reason for that. Uncle Hulot spends time playing with Jimmy. His sister, though, is concerned that her brother has never made time to set goals for himself. Mrs. Arpel suggests that her husband find a job for Hulot at the factory. Mr. Arpel does, but Hulot, who is a step or two behind the times, has trouble adjusting.Hulot's life is far less modern and, apparently, much happier. He still owns a horse-drawn carriage, which makes him a hit at Jimmy's school. He also has a bike, which he rides to work every day. Much to the chagrin of Mr. Arpel, Hulot parks his bike in a car parking space. Mr. Arpel gets his brother-in-law a desk job as a production supervisor at the factory. However, he has his desk right by the production line, and the plastic fumes make him drowsy. His attempts to correct the problem make Hulot ' and Arpel ' the laughingstock of the company. Arpel has put his good name on the line for Hulot, and Arpel is determined to make sure his name remains in good standing. The story is only a small part of 'My Uncle.' It's also a spectacle of sound and vision. Tati uses a lot of long shots to maximize the comedy of each frame. For example, he shows us the Arpels' neighbor, mowing her lawn with a pedal-powered grass cutting cart. She may be able to sit and steer her way around the yard, but she pedals so hard, she would be better off walking with a standard grass cutter. Whenever someone walks on the concrete at these homes or at the factory, they make a hollow sound. In this movie, we see a lot of the so-called modern conveniences are, in fact, aesthetic and ergonomic nightmares. The Arpels' home looks like a life-size version of Kenner Toys structures I used to make. In other words, it looks real, but doesn't seem quite normal. Also, all of the colors in the house (and the factory) look drab and practically lifeless. The dining table is small, and the chairs are mostly metal, with just a touch of cushion. The setting does not seem conducive to a nice family meal. A nice meal proves impossible when the Arpels invite guests. Hulot is so confused by his sister's concept of a couch, he turns it on its side and uses it for a bed when he spends the evening babysitting Jimmy. The Arpels' fountain is the most outlandish of the family luxuries is the fountain ' a fish shooting water from its mouth. Hulot doesn't understand the attraction of his sister's things, but he sees that these things seem to make her happy. Tati, who was a skilled pantomime, does not show a range of reactions as the easy-going Mr. Hulot. His facial expression, as well as any other motion, is very precise. He is always very polite to everyone he knows, and even takes the time to play with the Arpels' dog when he inadvertently follows his master to work. It's not that work isn't important to Hulot. It's just that humanity is, too, and no time clock will tell him it isn't. The Arpels want him to be more goal-oriented. They even suggest with one another that he should have a home like they have, complete with every electrical gadget that has been invented. Hulot is very content with the place he has, a third story flat where he has to walk by every apartment to get to his place. He has set his goals to his standards, and would be lost if he tried to be someone he isn't. Most of the laughs in 'My Uncle' are as easy-going as Hulot himself. My favorite happens when he is introduced to the concept of a car lighter when he can't light his pipe with his matches. The one hard laugh I had comes after Hulot has reset the plastic machine. Another manager, who is giving a visiting businessman a tour of the facility, notices a part of the result on the floor. He quickly scoops up the rejected plastic, stuffs it in his suit coat, and continues the tour without missing a beat. Tati's main focus was on the gentle and natural comedy man creates in his daily life. For his efforts, Tati won an Oscar for the best foreign language film of 1958. 'My Uncle,' in spite of the five-star rating I'm giving it, is not the best entry in Hulot series. That would come with the next Hulot film, 'Playtime,' which came nine years later. In 'My Uncle,' Tati acknowledges the world will change, and it's up to each person to decide if the change is for the better. Mr. Hulot understands that concept, but he is quite content with the things that he already has. 'My Uncle' is a comic clash of quiet proportions. After all, Hulot realizes the world does not revolve around him. He's just trying to be Mr. Hulot, a good uncle, brother, and person. The rest of the world has to search for its own happiness. It would also be nice, according to the film, to always have a place where dogs can run and play. (As a side note, I have not made a mistake in identifying the Becourt character as Jimmy. That is the name he is given on the mainly English language version of 'My Uncle,' which I purchased from Movies Unlimited over a decade ago. The version you see, though, may be different from the one I have seen.)
Rating:
Summary: A Fantastic Piece of French Filmmaking
Review: As a relative newcomer to the films of Jacques Tati, I found myself pleasantly surprised upon viewing his film Mon Oncle. This film makes some scathing comments on modern living. It does so under the guise of a very entertaining comedy, much like Chaplin had done before Tati. Tati's character, M. Hulot, is an absolute riot pretty much whenever he happens to come in contact with any modern gadget or device. A very funny movie with a gorgeous transfer on this great Criterion edition. The short included from 1947 is fantastic.
Rating:
Summary: Tati Was a Film Genius; My Uncle Is a Great Film
Review: Here's a guy who was a movie genius, who wrote, directed and starred in his own films, and who created a character of universal humor and gentleness. I'm not talking about Chaplin or Keaton, but about Jacques Tati. The character he plays in all his movies (only six in 25 years!) is M. Hulot, a tall, gangling innocent of a man who continually finds himself in situations that bemuse him. My Uncle is probably the best of the films to introduce yourself to him, if you haven't already met.
Hulot's sister, brother-in-law and nephew live in an excruciatingly modern, fashionable, cold and uncomfortable house in Paris. There's not a gadget they don't have and there's a button to push for every gadget. The adults seem to have everything except an appreciation of what life is for and an understanding of what their little boy needs. Hulot lives atop a strange apartment house in a colorful part of Paris where everyone knows each other and foibles are accepted. Hulot moves through life seemingly without purpose, but he finds small ways to help others and to enjoy what life brings. How his sister and her husband are determined to bring Hulot into the modern life of ambition and goals is part of the story. How Hulot helps his nephew cope and ultimately brings about a change in the kid's parents is the other part.
All this is shown with little dialoque. Tati builds his movie(s) around meticulously planned, step-by-step sight gags, although sight gag is too coarse a phrase for what he accomplishes. Things happen that may make you smile, later you realize they're part of what you're now seeing that makes you laugh.
Some people think M. Hulot's Holiday is better than My Uncle, some think not. Well, the point is that they are both great movies. In one way or another all of Tati's movies are great. This one is very funny and very affecting.
If you think Chaplin is a great film artist, and most people do, you owe it to yourself to become acquainted (if you aren't already) with another.
The DVD transfer is excellent and the extras well worth watching...but don't watch them until after you see the film. The discussions about how Tati builds his visual humor will take some of the surprises away if you watch them first.
Rating: 
Summary: Great movie for its time
Review: I agree with some some that the movie is slow at times but we can not watch films and expect to get the same feeling every time. I particularly liked the innovativeness for the late fifties and the contrast between two very different worlds. This film won an award because it was witty, insightful, and again quite clever for the era. He was poking fun at techies and their lifestyle. this is not the kind of movie that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat but it will display a side of the French that few did at that time period. If Tati did not elaborate the relationship between the characters that is because it was not his purpose, again people are used to experiencing certain kinds of feeling when they watch a movie and when they dont get it they feel as if the movie is boring. You have to watch this movie as if it is the first you have ever seen and then you will experience the creativeness of the directors work. Personally I appreciated it tremendously and loved the music.
Rating:
Summary: CRITERION BREATHES NEW LIFE INTO A COMIC MASTERPIECE
Review: I am just overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the magnificent DVD restoration, by Criterion, of this fantastically funny, yet senstive and sympathetic film. I really couldn't believe my eyes--even as the opening credits were shown --- at the total clarity and warmth of the film's colourings. It looked as though Criterion had taken to film to the laundry and given it a good scrub-up and clean-up. I don't even remember seeing any print of this film with the same superior clarity.
The film has always been a great favourite of mine... I have never forgetten the fish fountain... the click-clack of the high heels on the paving stones and inside the house. And the highlight for me was always the two black heads looking out the oval wondows, and their movements seeming like two enormous eyes, watching every movement.
The film is a minor masterpiece on many levels. You can view it as a comedy; sometimes subtle, sometimes screamingly obvious.
On one level MON ONCLE can be viewed as an assualt on "modernity :, the sterile technology, designed to make life easier but somehow seems to take away from the humanity of life.
There are obvious comparisons between MON ONCLE's " quaint" Parisienne suburb with its emphasis upon " community living " and village lifestyles ... and the bland isolation of the modern expensive lifestyle.
The "digs" at class distinction, when the fish fountain is only allowed to be displayed when people " who count ", call at the house, but is switched off for tradespeople, and of course, MON ONCLE.
The quietly haunting theme music. The roving dogs motif which opens and closes the film, emphasises freedom --or lack of it.
Again another beautiful Criterion remastering. Now there's more to see and enjoy. And as I indicated at the beginning of this review, I found I kept losing track of the film's action, because I was forever sidetracked into just looking at, and admiring the marvellous colouring and " cleanliness" of the film.
If you love Jacques Tati and understand what he was all about, for even though he is mocking aspects of life, and life situations, his approach is sympathetic, sensitive and caring and you feel for and understand all the characters and what they are all about. And this is OK. It is just when they are thrown together that matters become tangled and poor MON ONCLE, just can't help putting his foot in it --- sometimes quite literally.
A quality DVD of a wonderful film. I think Criterion must really care about Film, to always present such perfect restorations. I bought this DVD and on the 3rd viewing, I was able to settle down and concentrate upon the films, its themes and pin-pricking comedy.
Rating:
Summary: Thanks Criterion for releasing Mon Oncle!!!
Review: I am so glad that Criterion has released Mon Oncle on DVD! I've been a huge fan of Tati for over 10 years, and my battered VHS copy taped off the TV has seen better days. What better way than to replace it with this wonderful DVD release and its crisp-clear restored image! Unfortunately, bonus features are few and between on this DVD, aside from an extra short film featuring François, the mailman character that Tati created and later used in his first feature film, Jour de fête. The only other feature is an intro by Terry Jones of Monty Python fame. Now, all I'm missing is for Criterion to re-release Tati's Playtime (which I consider to be even better than Mon Oncle), hopefully without any screen size problem this time. This film is worth 5 stars
This DVD is worth 4 stars (due to the low amount of bonus features)
Rating: 
Summary: A bit of a mixed bag
Review: I felt Mon Oncle had its moments - but there were times when I struggled to get any meaning (and I generally like so-called slow films e.g. Wang Kai-War's In the mood for love). Much preferred M. Hulot's Holiday. Helps if you like dogs!
Rating:
Summary: Mon Oncle is a high point in French comedy
Review: I first saw this movie as a child many years ago - since then I've watched it many times, and each time I find something new to enjoy, and laugh at my favourite jokes from all the other times I've seen it. I know there are some parts where I've laughed so much it hurts. It's a true classic.
Rating: 
Summary: buyers beware
Review: I really recommend that people watch this film before buying it. Although most of the reviews here are extremely positive, many people who have seen this film--including just about everyone I know--find this film excrutiatingly unfunny. There is a lot of inventiveness, but I watched the whole film without laughing once, and I have found that to be a common experience from talking to other people. Personally, I would take my money and spend it on the Marx Brothers or Fawlty Towers or The Office or Tatie Danielle or one of the other wonderful Criterion offerings. At the very least, I hope you will make sure you find this film funny before you buy it.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Beautiful Piece of Cinema
Review: I rented and watched two Jacques Tati classics - Mon Oncle and Mr. Hulot's Holiday - on a long dark stormy afternoon. Mon Oncle totally swept me away with its charm. It left me smiling and feeling warm. The set pieces and cinematography are amazingly beautiful...many of the images stay with me - the dogs roaming all over the Parisian neighborhoods, the House and of course its famous water fountain, even the way the secretary skips around...and most of all, the lovely Mr. Hulot. Lay back and enjoy this charming, beautiful, relaxing, sweet Mon Oncle.
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