Franki
First and foremost: This isn't a realistic look at suicide or depression - it's supposed to be exaggerated and over the top. It's got some really good satire at parts and even it's characters are kind of interesting. This isn't a 13 Reasons Why situation, where suicide is romanticized and could lead to people hurting themselves. I also don't see too many non-suicidal people watching this and truly thinking this is what people go through. Most people are smart enough to get that it's a comedy. There are, however, a few major flaws with it's message and presentation of the story that, while they didn't make this movie despicable, were hard to swallow for me - so I can see how they'd be MORE than offensive and demeaning to family members and people who've attempted or contemplated suicide. Depending on the person, this movie can really miss it's mark: 1) Alan being happy comes off as that misunderstanding of depressed/suicidal people, and how they just need to "smile". 2) In the final musical number, the ghosts of the people who've died by way of the shop appear and sing about how they couldn't find happiness. This can be taken VEEEEEEERY badly depending on who you are. Quality wise, the songs were forced and took you out of the comedy and plot rather than further it, which is the worst kind of musical. There's also a creeepy scene where Alan lets his friends was his sister strip and dance naked. In a more mature, more serious movie maybe it could be a very human look at child curiosity, but in this black comedy it's portrayed as charming and it's like...no. That's gross. Stahp. Really mixed on this one and I have a feeling a lot of other people will be too.
Voyou Nobodysbusiness
This is not one of P.Leconte great films. The subject and poster are attractive, but the delivery is a complete let down to me.The story itself doesn't make any sense. The way the shop is presented, it is nothing more than a place where to buy weapons. Selling ropes, poisons and guns with only one bullet doesn't cut it. The shop isn't even secret. By the way, many of the customers should be murderers, but we don't see any. The son's joy is feared as it might cause a loss of customers, but it never does... Big lack of imagination in the general design.All this could be forgiven if balanced with small ideas, but there are very few of those, and most of them are deja vu. Suicide is illegal in public places, like in the comics Judge Dredd from the 70s. The family owes a lot to the Addams: the look of the father, the longing for death of almost all members...The humour falls flat. No grief or sadness is ever felt. Poetry is absent. The animation is average. And they sing, awful songs, like in a Disney product. If you're going to make a musical, you have to come up with a good score. Just compare what they wrote with the Charles Trenet's classic used in the starting credits. Yuck !
writers_reign
I'm slightly bemused by the most negative of the four reviews that have been posted here: it's difficult to imagine why someone would go to see a film titled unambiguously The Suicide Shop, clearly expecting an escapist, heart-warming movie along the lines of Rebecca Of Sunnybrook Farm, Lassie Come Home, or I Remember Mama. It is what it says on the tin. A hugely non-PC Black Comedy cum satire that reflects life in present-day France (although I accept, of course, that not everyone living outside France will 'get' that aspect. Other than that it follows the classic plot line, in this case a family business geared to exploiting misery and depression by pandering to them, which is then frustrated when a new arrival in the family radiates joy and happiness thus having an adverse effect on potential customers. I agree with others that the songs could be better but overall this is a much-needed anti-PC breath of fresh air.
kosmasp
Especially not the animation that might seem very low key to most (though that doesn't mean that a lot of work has been put behind the making of the movie). But the movie itself is really good. You think this is a one pun movie and it might feel like that to you. But you could also read a lot of social criticism into the movie.Whatever you do, be vary that the movie is not politically correct in any way, shape or form. If that's not your cup of tea, then the humor will annoy you and make you hate the movie. Better stay away from it then. But if you are open to it, you will be delighted by some scenes. It still has some clichés it needs to serve and you will get where this is going, but it's still entertaining enough throughout
AD
