OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies

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OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies

2006

1h 39m

Comedy

Action

Adventure

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

76%

Tomatometer

63 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

In this spy movie parody, French Office of Strategic Services agent Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath (Jean Dujardin) investigates the disappearance of his fellow agent and longtime friend Jack Jefferson (Philippe Lefebvre). Disguised as the head of a wholesale chicken company, Hubert dispatches to Cairo amid the Suez Crisis. He meets his contact, Mossad agent Larmina El Akmar Betouche (Bérénice Bejo), but then comically stumbles upon an international conspiracy.

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Critics Consensus

This clever spy spoof plays politics and movie conventions for laughs and features a great turn by Jen Dujardin as a smarmy-suave nouveau-Bond.

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Hank Sartin

Time Out

Rated: 4/5

Nov 18, 2011

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Elisabeth Vincentelli

Time Out

Rated: 4/5

Nov 17, 2011

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Joshua Katzman

Chicago Reader

This French comedy fondly lampoons both the popular French spy movies adapted from Jean Bruce's novels in the 1950s and '60s and the colonialist era they were set in.

Dec 17, 2008

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Hubert is a complete imbecile … or at least until those occasions when the script requires him to do something smart to extricate himself from a sticky situation.

Rated: 2/4

Jan 1, 2024

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

This film achieves a unique balance. Those looking to quench their base desires will be satisfied, while those of us needing some aesthetic merit can revel in the homage to vintage spy thrillers.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 6, 2023

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

I loved the mix of subtle humor and over the top absurdity.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 24, 2022

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Stephen C

Funny in 1 hour and 39 minutes. In French (France) and English versions with English subtitles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

06/02/25

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Audience Member

At least I know who is René Coty after watching this.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

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Audience Member

Just a series of racist jokes by a French ''comic''.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

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Audience Member

This was viewed via Tivo recording after the leads caught my eye, and while I was expecting something int he vein of The Pink Panther material, this never fully drew me in, which was something of a disappointment. It's okay, but I think I was expecting more given the talent involved. Rental?

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

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Audience Member

Although foolish, way better than the latter one.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

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Audience Member

Missed the first ten, but movies like this tend to work out even with some minutes skipped. The guy from "The Artist" is an agent, covered as some chicken farm worker. He is after some bad fellas. He meet a lady (also from "The Artist") and they're friendship is quite varied. Mild spoofs, and never dearing enough. Enough jokes about religion and cultural differences - little of other things. Some OK jokes, most of them pretty flat. 4 out of 10 ouds.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

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Michel Hazanavicius

Director

Jean Dujardin

Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath

Bérénice Bejo

Larmina El Akmar Betouche

Aure Atika

La princesse Al Tarouk

Philippe Lefebvre

Jack Jefferson

Constantin Alexandrov

Setine

UK Critics Consensus: Was W. Wicked? Is Pride & Glory Proud and Glorious?

Kim Newman on… OSS 117: Cairo Nest of Spies

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Synopsis

In this spy movie parody, French Office of Strategic Services agent Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath (Jean Dujardin) investigates the disappearance of his fellow agent and longtime friend Jack Jefferson (Philippe Lefebvre). Disguised as the head of a wholesale chicken company, Hubert dispatches to Cairo amid the Suez Crisis. He meets his contact, Mossad agent Larmina El Akmar Betouche (Bérénice Bejo), but then comically stumbles upon an international conspiracy.

Director: Michel Hazanavicius
Producer: Éric Altmayer, Nicolas Altmayer, Sidonie Dumas, Nicolas Seydoux, Franck Chorot, Christophe Riandee, Manuel Alduy, Bertrand Maheux
Screenwriter: Jean-François Halin, Jean-François Halin, Michel Hazanavicius
Production Co: Gaumont, M6 Films, Mandarin Films
Genre: Comedy, Action, Adventure
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Streaming): May 3, 2011
Box Office (Gross USA): $302.8K
Runtime: 1h 39m

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