Banzaï

Michel runs a busy telephone help desk where he acts as a crisis counselor for strangers, steadying others while dreaming of a quieter life. He is about to marry Isabelle, a glamorous airline hostess who hops between continents. Michel dreads the thought of leaving his desk, while Isabelle swears she will give up flying to make the wedding possible. To keep faith with their vows, they begin a web of small lies that spirals into bigger pretensions. Isabelle must still fly a few more routes and Michel is pulled into a whirlwind of errands that sends him from New York to Tunisia and eventually Hong Kong. The misadventures test their bond and their wits. Along the way, friendships are tested and loyalties sharpen as the couple learns to trust each other again.

Directed by Claude Zidi, Banzaï is built from an original screenplay by Didier Kaminka and Michel Fabre. The 1983 comedy rides on Zidi's fast-paced, slapstick style and a strong ensemble including Coluche, Valérie Mairesse and Marthe Villalonga, giving it a distinctly French flavor.

Box office data for Banzaï isn’t provided in the available materials, so no worldwide gross is listed here. If figures exist, they aren’t included in the provided data. In discussions of mid 1980s French comedies, this title is occasionally cited for its quick pace.

As a 1980s French farce, Banzaï showcases Coluche's physical humor and Zidi's knack for escalating set pieces, from implausible misunderstandings to globe hopping antics. The film packs momentum into a string of comedic gags that feel breezy and distinctly of its era.

The movie leans into brisk, human humor and farce rather than sentiment, turning promises and career tension into a playground of quick gags. It treats love and work as competing commitments and relishes the chaos of trying to keep both afloat, a setup that invites lighthearted mayhem without cruelty.