Vincent, Francois, Paul and the Others

Not even as focused as director Claude Sautet's 1972 effort, Cesar and Rosalie, this is, nevertheless, an amiable (if undistinguished) effort that gradually draws viewers into its several converging stories. The link between the title characters is a given--these friends are all middle-aged men who live with women in their 20s (why, we don't know; maybe middle-aged Frenchmen are incredibly virile). Yves Montand as Vincent has the major story: his business is going belly up, his estranged wife is filing for divorce, and his current young beau has decided to mosey on to where then grass is greener. After the long opening, in which the numerous characters are established--primarily through scenes which underscore the endless fascination which the French seem to have for wining and dining--conflicts finally begin to arise, and the film begins to earn our attention. Yet, although there are a couple of very nice set pieces along the way, neither the story nor the script are particularly clever or witty. A minor film that really doesn't move one for or against it. An optional purchase. (R. Pitman)