--- title: "The Intouchables: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-intouchables/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-intouchables" critics_score: 45 critics_reviews: 11 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Intouchables (2011): what the critics said Critics' score 45 from 11 reviews: 3 positive, 1 mixed, 7 negative. Most critics find The Intouchables too predictable and sentimental to recommend, but praise repeatedly centres on Omar Sy and François Cluzet. Their chemistry gives the friendship warmth and comic energy, with even several unfavourable reviews acknowledging how much the performances contribute. The more enthusiastic critics embrace its broad humour and accessible emotions, accepting the familiar buddy-story formula as a setting for sincere exchanges between the leads. The divide is wide: what supporters find generous and irreverent, detractors find manipulative or condescending. Reservations cluster around stock subplots, simplistic contrasts and a treatment of race and class that several reviews regard as troubling rather than merely unsubtle. HeyUGuys offers a notably positive reading, finding that the rapport avoids mawkishness despite the formula; The Wrap takes the opposing view, criticising the racial stereotype underpinning the feel-good friendship. ## The Telegraph — Robbie Collin Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 September 2012. The film is corny but charming, a broad and accessible comedy-drama about an unlikely friendship between a wealthy quadriplegic and his carer from the banlieues. It wears its crowd-pleasing aspirations openly while delivering warm comedy and boundary-crossing themes. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/9555377/Untouchable-review.html) ## Los Angeles Times — Sheri Linden Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 25 May 2012. The critic praises the chemistry between leads Omar Sy and François Cluzet that elevates the sentimental buddy story of a quadriplegic aristocrat and his caretaker. However, the rest of the film relies on tired clichés, manipulative subplots, and stereotypes that undermine its emotional truth. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-may-25-la-et-intouchables-review-20120525-story.html) ## Empire — David Hughes Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 10 September 2012. The critic notes the enjoyable performances from François Cluzet and Omar Sy but finds the story predictable after a strong opening and criticizes the emotional beats as overly sentimental despite the true story basis. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/untouchable-review/) ## Time Out — Keith Uhlich Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 22 May 2012. The critic finds the film watchable but inconsequential and overly softened for mass appeal, with a plot that raises liberal-guilt alarms through its cross-class, cross-race buddy dynamic. The leads make ingratiating foils and the opening sequence shows comic promise, but the rest lacks subtlety and depth. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-intouchables) ## IndieWire — Gabe Toro Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 24 May 2012. The film is a crowd-pleaser aimed at simpletons. It offers feel-good escapism through its central friendship but lacks depth or originality. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-the-intouchables-is-a-crowd-pleaser-for-simpletons-110370/) ## Slant Magazine — Joseph Jon Lanthier Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 21 May 2012. The premise renders analysis redundant as the characters are walking tangles of class signification. It leads to conservative mush that treats class expectations as a quiet triumph while offering inspirational pablum. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-intouchables/) ## The New Yorker — David Denby Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 21 May 2012. Denby describes the film as a watered-down, square version of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, criticizing its French sentimentality that descends into condescension and embarrassment. He singles out the strong performance by François Cluzet but finds the overall movie grating and problematic. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/goings-on-about-town/movies/the-intouchables-2) ## The Hollywood Reporter — THR Staff 26 September 2011. Festival review. Two strong central performances elevate a shamelessly manipulative French crowd pleaser. The film is a genial buddy movie that borrows liberally from other crowd-pleasers but delivers some moving moments thanks to its leads. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/untouchables-intouchables-film-review-240178/) ## HeyUGuys — Adam Lowes Rating 4/5. 21 September 2012. The critic praises the film's winning mainstream appeal and the strong, sincere rapport between the two leads, which avoids mawkishness. They single out the odd-couple dynamic and human moments, like the opera scene, for praise, while noting it follows a familiar formula. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/untouchable-review/) ## Paste — Annlee Ellingson Rating 7.8/10. 24 May 2012. The critic praises the film's crowd-pleasing yet irreverent take on the true story of an unlikely friendship between a quadriplegic aristocrat and his ex-con caretaker. The central performances by François Cluzet and Omar Sy are singled out for their chemistry and ability to elevate the material. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/the-intouchables) ## The Playlist — The Playlist Staff Rating D+. 24 May 2012. The critic finds the film a predictable, dull-minded crowd-pleaser that relies on simplistic contrasts and formulaic elements without depth. They single out the crude handling of class and racial dynamics, and the lack of genuine insight into the characters' growth, for complaint. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-the-intouchables-is-a-crowd-pleaser-for-simpletons-20120524/) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 24 May 2012. The film is a well-meaning but condescending feel-good story of an unlikely friendship that ultimately leaves a bad taste. It singles out the 'magical Negro' trope and the odd ethnic change from the real-life inspiration for criticism. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/intouchables-review-feel-good-french-import-condescends-41466/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-intouchables.md