THE VALET
Light French farce, better suited to a home screening.
Should You Watch It?
The Valet has a light comic touch and some genuinely funny reactions to an average-looking valet suddenly appearing to date a beautiful supermodel. Its best moral quality is Francois himself: Elena’s decency inspires him to come to her rescue when Pierre turns mean.
But the story still centers on adultery and deceit. Pierre is lampooned and criticized for mistreating his wife and mistress, while Elena’s desire for him to divorce his wife is treated more gently. The film also includes foul language and a joke about Francois accidentally touching Elena’s chest while dreaming about another woman.
This is a fairly entertaining, three-star comedy, but its lightweight script and mature material make it better for home viewing. Choose it only for older teenagers and adults who can exercise discernment.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESPierre, a billionaire, is photographed with Elena, his beautiful supermodel girlfriend. To hide the affair from his wife, who controls his business, Pierre claims that Elena was actually with Francois, a restaurant valet.
Francois agrees to pretend to be Elena’s boyfriend for a large sum of money. He hopes the money will help him win the love of a struggling female bookstore owner. Pierre’s wife is not convinced, and the unlikely arrangement becomes the source of the comedy.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means this is a fairly entertaining comedy with genuine comic charms, but not a standout. Some of the funniest scenes come from people reacting to average-looking Francois suddenly dating a beautiful supermodel.
The film has a light touch, but the script is lightweight and could use stronger comic jeopardy. The comedy therefore does not stand out as strongly as it might.
The Worldview
The Valet has a mixed worldview. It presents a light pagan setting with some light moral qualities, especially through Francois, the most decent character in the story. Elena treats him decently and tries to help him with the other woman, and her decency inspires him to come to her rescue when Pierre turns mean.
The film lampoons and criticizes Pierre’s deceitful treatment of his wife and mistress. However, Elena is let off the hook somewhat, even though she wants Pierre to divorce his wife so she can have him for herself. The story’s moral center is therefore incomplete: adultery and deceit are exposed as comic problems, but not every character faces the same moral scrutiny.
The film’s central conflict depends on people hiding the truth from one another. Scripture calls viewers to a better way: “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor” (Ephesians 4:25).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Light pagan worldview with some light moral qualities in a comedic setting where married man's deceitful actions in adulterous situation are lampooned and criticized but woman's actions are let off the hook (woman wants the man to divorce his wife for her); 14 obscenities and one light profanity of "My God"; no violence; no sex scenes married man is having an affair, unmarried could pretends to be sleeping together and some other brief light sexual references; no nudity; alcohol use; smoking; and, lying, deceit, jealousy.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Pierre uses lies to hide his affair. What does his deceit cost the people around him, and why does Scripture call us to speak truthfully?
Ephesians 4:25 · Proverbs 12:22Francois is motivated by money at first but later comes to Elena’s rescue. What helps a person move from self-interest toward doing what is right?
Philippians 2:3–4 · Micah 6:8The film treats some characters’ choices more gently than others. How should we respond when a story makes wrongdoing seem funny or harmless?
Isaiah 5:20 · Romans 12:9What makes a relationship faithful, and how does adultery damage marriage and trust?
Exodus 20:14 · Hebrews 13:4The Final Word
The Valet offers light comedy and some decent moral qualities, but its adultery, deceit, foul language, and mature humor make it a poor family-night choice. Older teens and adults may find it fairly entertaining at home. Our answer is WAIT FOR HOME.
