Les 11 commandements (The 11 Commandments) is a 2004 French comedy/camera prank film starring comedian Michaël Youn and his friends Vincent Desagnat, Benjamin Morgaine and William Geslin, as well as Dieudonné M'bala M'bala.
It begins like something of a story, with a gang of mischievous friends being sent on a mission by the God of Jokes to "restore mirth to a morose planet"... but it's all really just an excuse for the cast to do some very stupid and/or dangerous things for shit and giggles. From then on, it's essentially a French version of Jackass, with some proto-Borat antics to be found while we're at it. Did we mention it's all done for real?
A sequel in the form of a World Tour is in the works for release in 2024.
The 11 Commandments provides examples of the following tropes:
- Adolf Hitlarious: The Commandment "You'll resurrect a celebrity of the 1940s". Mike disguises himself as... Adolf Hitler, and his team as SS officers and soldiers, and they go in a village to talk to the locals and tell them how Hitler "has changed". The kicker? 3 out of 4 of these guys (including Youn) are Jewish.
- Alcohol-Induced Idiocy: One commandment consists of the team going to Russia and experiencing zero gravity in a plane, while wearing ballet tutus. They get drunk with vodka just before taking off to "spice things up". Includes a Vomit Indiscretion Shot.
- As Himself: At the very least, Gad Elmaleh and star soccer player Djibril Cissé played themselves.
- Beleaguered Assistant: Toto/Fifou (Patrick Timsit), the assistant to the God of Jokes, hates his life of having to write jokes that get discarded by his boss on a regular basis.
- The Cameo: A few celebrities show up such as actor Patrick Timsit, comedian Gad Elmaleh, soccer player Djibril Cissé, tennis player Amélie Mauresmo and others.
- Candid Camera Prank: The pranks (including those done by crewmembers on the unsuspecting main actors at times) are done for real, with a hidden camera filming.
- The Commandments: The God of Jokes proclaims several Commandments (in this context, read "tasks") that the gang must accomplish.
- Excuse Plot: The God of Jokes sending the team on a mission to "restore mirth to a morose planet". It's really just an excuse for all the stupid shit happening.
- Foodfight!: One skit has the team wreaking havoc in a supermarket, throwing food at each other and at the security guards trying to stop them (for real).
- Foreign Remake: A French take on the "High Concept" of Jackass.
- Gag Penis:
- There's a skit in which Mike dresses and sings like a racist American Deep South farmer while harvesting a wheat field. Once it's done, an aerial view reveals that he cut the shape of a giant penis in the field.
- In another, there's a race on foot with the guys wearing... giant penis costumes.
- Get into Jail Free: There are segments in-between Commandments with each member of the team trying to get arrested by cops, with one (Mike) getting drunk and parking his car in the wrong place or another disguising himself as a Camp Gay pervert dressed in pink who's obsessed with rubbing himself against cops. There's a contest about the one getting the highest prison sentence and fine for it.
- Groin Attack: At one point, the team has to become a "wall" for a penalty kick session by then-soccer star Djibril Cissé. And they're only wearing underwear. Willy (painfully) receives the ball in the groin.
- Knee-capping: During the penalty kick session, Djibril Cissé shoots a ball in Mike's knees, and Mike stumbles knees first on the ground, screaming in pain.
- Man-Made House Flood: The team rents a house and turns it into a giant pool at one point, and they have a party at it, set to "Jump Around".
- Mission from God: The God of Jokes sends the team on a mission to "restore mirth to a morose planet" with his Commandments.
- Parody Names: The title parodies the Decalogue (Ten Commandments) from The Bible (books of Exodus and Deuteronomy, might also refer to the 1956 film).
- Rollerblade Good: Subverted. The team takes sleeping pills just before going to bed, and that's the moment the God of Jokes chooses to tell them to go outside and roller skate all night. Cue them falling multiple times and those that don't sleep playing pranks on those who've fallen asleep by a river.
- The Tourney:
- The team has a joust at one point, with jousting lances... and mobile airport stairs.
- They have another one later, in a hospital, with jousting lances and wheelchairs.
