''French Fried Vacation 3'' (, ; released in some English-speaking countries as ''Friends Forever'') is a 2006 French comedy film, and the sequel to '' Les Bronzés'' (1978) and '' Les Bronzés font du ski'' (1979). Like the first two films, it is directed by

Patrice Leconte Patrice Leconte (; born 12 November 1947) is a French film director, screenwriter and comic strip writer. Life and career Leconte grew up in Tours, and began making little amateur films at 15. He went to Paris in 1967 and studied at Institut des ...

and stars mostly members of the theatrical/film troupe

Le Splendid Le Splendid is a café-théâtre company founded in Paris by a collection of writers and actors in the 1970s: Christian Clavier, Michel Blanc, Gérard Jugnot, Thierry Lhermitte (four childhood friends who knew one another from the Lycée Pasteur ...

. ''Les Bronzés 3: Amis pour la vie'' follows up on the revelers from the first two films, now in their 50s.

Plot

At a secluded luxury hotel in Sardinia owned by Graziella, beautiful Italian wife of the still handsome Popeye who now likes to be known as Robert, the other characters from the first two films, now in their 50s, start arriving. Robert is distracted by pursuing an affair with a girl who works in the kitchens and insists he leave his wife. Bernard and Nathalie, who own a chain of opticians' shops, have a son who arrives to announce his civil union with an older man. J-C is a bald hairdresser in the US, living with Gigi who has acquired enormous silicon breasts requiring an F cup bra. Jérôme, struck off for malpractice and divorced, is reduced to giving driving lessons. Christiane, scarred for life by an operation Jérôme botched, has with Miguel joined a weird Indian sect and seeks revenge. Gigi, flirtatious as ever, has a resumed fling with Jérôme. Nathalie, to punish Bernard for reacting so hostilely to his son's homosexuality, claims she conceived him with another man in the alpine cabin where they all spent a night 27 years ago. Graziella, fed up with the bickering and bed-hopping of her husband's embarrassing French friends, throws the lot out to spend the night with their luggage on the beach. Then she learns from the last character Gilbert, a sacked ex-employee, about Robert's infidelity and throws him out too. In the morning the group are joined by a boatload of illegal immigrants from North Africa, with whom they are bundled into vans by the police and taken to an internment camp.

Cast

Josiane Balasko Josiane Balasko (born Josiane Balašković; 15 April 1950) is a French actress, writer, and director. She has been nominated seven times for César Awards, and won twice. Career One of Balasko's most recognized roles among English speakers is ...

as Nathalie Morin *

Gérard Jugnot Gérard Jugnot (; born 4 May 1951) is a French actor, film director, screenwriter and film producer. Jugnot was one of the founders of the comedy ''troupe'' Le Splendid in the 1970s, along with, among others, his high-school friends Christian C ...

as Bernard Morin *

Michel Blanc Michel Blanc (16 April 1952 – 3 October 2024) was a French actor, writer and director. He is noted for his roles of losers and hypochondriacs. He is frequently associated with Le Splendid, which he co-founded, along with Thierry Lhermitte, ...

as Jean-Claude "J-C" Dusse * Marie-Anne Chazel as Gisèle "Gigi" André *

Christian Clavier Christian Jean-Marie Clavier (; born 6 May 1952) is a French actor, screenwriter, film producer and director. A co-founder of Le Splendid in the 1970s, a Parisian café-théâtre company which soon garnered success, he became widely popular aft ...

as Jérôme Tarayre *

Thierry Lhermitte Thierry Lhermitte (; born 24 November 1952) is a French actor, director, writer and producer, best known for his comedic roles. He was a founder of the comedy troupe ''Le Splendid'' in the 1970s, along with, among others, Christian Clavier, Géra ...

as Robert "Popeye" Lespinasse *

Ornella Muti Francesca Romana Rivelli (born 9 March 1955), professionally known as Ornella Muti, is an Italian actress. Among the best-known Italian actresses, in her career, she has worked across various genres, working alongside Italian directors such as ...

as Graziella Lespinasse *

Dominique Lavanant Dominique Lavanant (born 24 May 1944) is a French film and theatrical actress. She is known for her comedy skills especially with posh and distinguished characters like Rosalind Russell's; characters often defined by the adjective ''BCBG'', ' ...

as Christiane Weissmuller *

Martin Lamotte Martin Lamotte (; born 2 June 1947) is a French actor, comedian and director. He participated in several films alongside Le Splendid. He is most known for his role on the TV Series "SoeurThérèse.com" and "Nos chers voisins". Filmography ...

as Miguel Weissmuller * Bruno Moynot as Gilbert Jambier *

Arthur Jugnot Arthur Jugnot (born 2 December 1980) is a French actor and stage director. Career He made his on-screen debut on '' Most Promising Young Actress'', directed by Gérard Jugnot. In 2002, he also have a role in '' Monsieur Batignole'', again direc ...

as Benjamin Morin

Reception

The film was number 1 at the French box-office in 2006.

References

External links

* * Films directed by Patrice Leconte 2006 films 2000s French-language films 2006 comedy films French comedy films Films set in Sardinia 2000s French films Warner Bros. films {{2000s-comedy-film-stub