A lowbrow spy spoof that can only go so far with such a silly plot.
Comment
05/18/09
Rate this Movie 
OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (2008)
75
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work
Reviews Counted:55
Fresh:41
Rotten:14
Average Rating:6.6/10
Consensus: This clever spy spoof plays politics and movie conventions for laughs and features a great turn by Jen Dujardin as a smarmy-suave nouveau-Bond.
Theatrical Release:May 9, 2008 Limited
Synopsis: For those that like the spy action of the James Bond series shaken with a bit of humor, this French hit promises to be a tasty cocktail. OSS 117 is a popular French character who has appeared in... [More]
Get This Movie
Reviews for OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies
Click to read the article
04/23/09
This French comedy fondly lampoons both the popular French spy movies adapted from Jean Bruce's novels in the 1950s and '60s and the colonialist era they were set in.
12/17/08
Top CriticInfinitely superior to Get Smart.
11/07/08
This light-hearted pastiche is a recommended antidote to ‘Quantum of Solace’.
11/07/08
Notwithstanding a willing central performance from Dujardin, the film simply lacks the comedic savoir-faire to leave us shaken, stirred or even reasonably amused.
11/07/08
Impeccable standards, far above anything you’d expect from the parody genre.
11/07/08
In a week of overblown, unappetising or disappointing films, this makes a refreshing change. And how interesting to be offered a French movie that doesn't come straight from the "arthouse" stable.
11/07/08
The amusingly cumbersomely titled OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies is about ten minutes too long for a great plot to gag ratio, but there are enough smart chuckles here to make the promised sequel worth looking forward to.
11/07/08
Despite a number of hilarious set-pieces, the stupidity never spoils the intrigue and by playing the pastiche game better than Austin Powers, this is an unexpected pleasure.
11/07/08
Beautifully made, superbly written and frequently hilarious comedy that plays like a French version of Get Smart (the original series), with a terrific comic performance from Jean Dujardin.
11/07/08
I have never been a particular admirer of either James Bond or Austin Powers, and could hardly be expected to be overjoyed by a 'cross between them.' Hence, I was hardly surprised when I didn’t crack a smile over the antics of Mr. Jean Dujardin.
10/23/08
Top CriticLeave it to the French to beat us at our own bizarrely self-reflexive comic shenanigans. OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies is a model of smart, often very silly, but never, ever stupid comic perfection.
10/03/08
Those looking for big laughs will leave disappointed. OSS 117 barely qualifies as comic.
09/12/08
A lame comedy with a few decent laughs and several yawn-spawning set pieces that don't really go anywhere.
08/21/08
Top Critic...slick and funny, a pitch-perfect spoof...
07/25/08
A charming French spy farce replete with homoerotic undertones
07/16/08
Dujardin mantém um bom equilíbrio no tom que confere ao personagem, expondo sua tolice sem transformá-lo numa caricatura que comprometeria a narrativa ao impedir o espectador de acreditar que 117 é minimamente competente.
07/13/08
The first laugh-out-loud comedy to come out this year - as well as an embarrassing reminder that anything we can do, the French can do better.
07/06/08
Like its hero, the job may not be done with the most style and grace, but it definitely gets done.
06/27/08
Latest News for OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies
November 07, 2008:
UK Critics Consensus: Was W. Wicked? Is Pride & Glory Proud and Glorious?
This week in the UK cinemas we have Oliver Stones latest presidential dissection, the George W. Bush biopic W. with Josh Brolin in the title role. Also out is Pride & Glory, a... More...
May 11, 2008:
Trailer & Poster review 
More...
February 21, 2008:
Kim Newman on... OSS 117: Cairo Nest of Spies
RT Obscura, the exclusive column by renowned critic Kim Newman, sees the writer plumbing the depths of the RT archive in search of some forgotten gems. In his twelfth column,... More...
RT On Current TV
What’s Hot On RT
Fresh Links
Featured
Best of Disaster Porn
Moviefone looks back at 7 films that have paved the way for movies like 2012.
Actors with Famous Parents
BuzzSugar rattles off their 10 favorite current actors with celebrity pedigree.
The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T
The AV Club looks back at a dance sequence from the only movie written by... Dr. Seuss?
10 Questions - Ewan McGregor
The Men Who Stare at Goats star answers your questions on TIME.com.
IGN RSS Feeds