Three Men and a Cradle

Play trailer

Three Men and a Cradle

PG-13

Released Apr 25, 1986

1h 46m

Comedy

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

72%

Tomatometer

18 Reviews

56%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

When a baby is left on their doorstep, hard-partying bachelors Pierre (Roland Giraud), Jacques (André Dussolier) and Michel (Michel Boujenah) experience a serious lifestyle change. Instead of carousing until dawn and chasing women, they're now changing diapers and learning the ins and outs of fatherhood. The baby's mother -- one of Jacques' many conquests -- has flown to the United States. In the meantime, they'll have to protect the child from a mix-up with some drug runners.

Paul Attanasio

Washington Post

... at the beginning, at least, it's delightful.

Jan 3, 2018

Full Review

Sheila Benson

Los Angeles Times

A perfectly pleasant little piffle.

Jul 25, 2014

Full Review

Jay Boyar

Orlando Sentinel

A simple equation, perhaps, but when it comes to comedy, simpler is frequently funnier.

Jul 25, 2014

Full Review

Adrian Turner

Radio Times

Smartly paced and engagingly acted by the relatively unknown cast, it's a sweet little satire about the demolition of the male ego in the era of feminism.

Rated: 4/5

Jul 25, 2014

Full Review

David Sterritt

Christian Science Monitor

While the story has few surprises, parts of it are amusing and the performances are convincing.

Jul 25, 2014

Full Review

TV Guide

An engaging French comedy about three bachelors who find an abandoned baby at their door.

Rated: 3/4

Jul 25, 2014

Full Review

Read all reviews

S R

I saw this since I had come across Phillipine Leroy and was intrigued to see this original that Hollywood later remade. This was not nearly as comically funny, but it was more subtle and dark focusing on the suffering on the men. It was entertaining, but I may lean to the remake as being better. RUS.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

05/22/25

Full Review

S P

A real gem : The discovery of parenthood, initially forced, develops into an all encompassing and profound reflection on the meaning of life. A profoundly good movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/25/24

Full Review

Audience Member

This is an enjoyable, sensitive and altogether witty portrayal of three men with a problem and so much more sincere of a movie than the American version of a similar name; that subsequent portrayal has all the markings of a rushed remake with the current popular stars - the men turn into rich, handsome playboys and womanizers and the humor smacks you in the face rather than the quirky everday-man in the far more sincere and original French version. Thoroughly recommend!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great look at gender roles.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/23/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I tried to admire it, but I couldn't. I just couldn't.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/04/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Funny and warm-hearted movie.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Coline Serreau

Director

Roland Giraud

Pierre

Michel Boujenah

Michel

André Dussollier

Jacques

Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu

Sylvia

Dominique Lavanant

Mme Rapons

Brighton Beach Memoirs

71%

79%

Brighton Beach Memoirs

Watchlist

Blind Date

24%

42%

Blind Date

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Blind Date

National Lampoon's European Vacation

37%

49%

National Lampoon's European Vacation

Watchlist

Gung Ho

33%

46%

Gung Ho

Watchlist

In the Mood

67%

68%

In the Mood

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

When a baby is left on their doorstep, hard-partying bachelors Pierre (Roland Giraud), Jacques (André Dussolier) and Michel (Michel Boujenah) experience a serious lifestyle change. Instead of carousing until dawn and chasing women, they're now changing diapers and learning the ins and outs of fatherhood. The baby's mother -- one of Jacques' many conquests -- has flown to the United States. In the meantime, they'll have to protect the child from a mix-up with some drug runners.

Director: Coline Serreau
Screenwriter: Coline Serreau
Distributor: Samuel Goldwyn Company
Production Co: Ministère de la Culture, Flach Film, TF1 Films Production, Soprofilms [fr], Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC)
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: French (France)
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 25, 1986, Original
Release Date (DVD): Aug 9, 2005
Box Office (Gross USA): $2.1M
Runtime: 1h 46m