Our Review

             Movie: MR. BLAKE AT YOUR SERVICE

           Rating: PG-13, French with English subtitles`

                                        Length: 1:40

                         Release Date: June 20, 2025 

Jeanne: MR. BLAKE AT YOUR SERVICE is the lovely, charming, funny film we could all use right now! Starring John Malkovich in a French-speaking role as Andrew Blake and directed by Gilles Legardinier, who based his screenplay on his own 2012 novel, “Complètement Cramé!”, this gem is completely enchanting.

Andrew, a wildly successful businessman in London, recently lost his beloved wife Diane. Still reeling from her death, he decides to depart for the French countryside. He’s hoping to recapture the memories he cherishes at the gorgeous estate where he first met Diane. Thinking he’s staying at a bed and breakfast, when he arrives, Odile (Émilie Dequenne), the cook who runs the stately home, mistakes Andrew as their new butler.

Feeling like he has nothing to lose, Andrew accepts the position on a “trial basis”. But soon he manages to capture the hearts of Odile, Manon (Eugénie Anselin), the maid, Magnier (Philippe Bas), the groundskeeper and especially, Nathalie Beauvillier (Fanny Ardant), the beautiful lady of the manor.

The ensemble cast Legardinier has assembled is remarkable --- and incredibly delightful. Ardant is a well-known and much-celebrated French actress and director who has won two César Awards and a Lumière. She is breathtaking --- and perfect --- as the reserved madame who lost her husband four years ago and is now stuck with a home she can’t afford.

Dequenne, who passed away in March of this year, almost steals the film, along with her precious cat, Mephisto, from Malkovich as the testy cook who doesn’t trust her instincts. In one of her final screen performances, she is a joy to watch. At one point, Odile must follow Andrew into the ancient basement to choose the wines for a special dinner, and her reaction to bugs and spider webs is hysterical. At that moment, she so reminded me of David

--- my illustrious partner --- who is terrified of any insect!

Bas and Anselin round out this terrific cast, but it is, in fact, Malkovich’s movie. And he’s in rare form. He seems to be having so much fun playing Andrew that one can’t help but join in his exuberance. Legardinier’s co-writer on the screenplay, Christel Henon, also has a small, but juicy role as Madame Berliner, Nathalie’s “friend”, and she’s hilarious.

The country estate is stunning, the music by Erwann Chandon is wonderful and, most importantly, the writing is truly entertaining. MR. BLAKE AT YOUR SERVICE should not be missed!

Opinion: Strong See It Now!

David: John Malkovich delivers a picture-perfect performance as a successful British businessman who travels to France while grieving the recent loss of his wife. And the actor speaks only French in MR. BLAKE AT YOUR SERVICE.

Despite being named “Man of the Year” by business leaders in London, Andrew Blake (Malkovich) refuses to attend the ceremony in his honor. Instead, much to the chagrin of his associate Richard Ward (Al Ginter), he decides to go to France to revisit the manor house where he met Diane who died a mere four months earlier.

Once at the estate, he meets the current residents, the owner, Nathalie Beauvillier (Fanny Ardant), her cook Odile (the late Émilie Dequenne), and Mephisto, Odile’s adorably grumpy cat. He also meets Magnier (Philippe Bas), the groundskeeper who has a romantic crush on Odile but bemoans the fact that he “blew it” with her.

What ensues is a warm-hearted, charming engagement between Blake and the rest of the household. He transforms from a pain-in-the-neck “butler” to someone they all grow to love, including Mephisto, the cat who is harboring a secret of its own.

Blake is fluent in French except his accent doesn’t fool anyone – they all know he’s British. But as he demonstrates his wisdom, philosophy and sense of humor, he ingratiates himself into their lives.

MR. BLAKE AT YOUR SERVICE is simply a wonderfully acted and written story. The screenplay is by director and noted French author Gilles Legardinier, along with co-writer Christel Henon who has a small part as Madame Berliner.

During Blake’s very funny sojourn as butler, the manor has other help including the maid Manon (Eugénie Anselin), who is pregnant but whose boyfriend has abandoned her. Blake offers her pearls of wisdom, and her world will be fine again.

Malkovich is regally entertaining in this role, never wearing out his welcome at the manor house or with viewers of this movie. The rest of the cast is equally talented as they each get a turn demonstrating their true selves, along with their humanity. Of course, it is Andrew Blake who promotes all this social intermingling. And I will say that this effort has the perfect ending.

This movie was originally titled COMPLÈTEMENT CRAMÉ!, which was Legardinier’s book title before it was made into a film. It then morphed into WELL DONE!, but will be released now as MR. BLAKE AT YOUR SERVICE.

On a sad note, this movie was one of Ms. Dequenne’s last as she passed away at age 43 this past March. In 1999 and 2012, she won the Best Actress award at Cannes.

Opinion: See It Now!