The caustic cartoons of Gerard Lauzier on the condition of the French middle classes are brought to life in this story about a man who longs for the attractions of a bohemian existence. Christian Clavier is Jerome, a married man who romanticizes and envies his actor-friend's lifestyle. When Jerome loses his job he sees a chance to pose as a wayward author and chase after women. To that end, he forgets about his wife and children and launches into the pursuit of parties, fun, and an elusive young woman. Jerome's posturing gets him nowhere, as people take advantage of him right and left, and his situation gets worse as a woman he wants to ditch keeps popping up again like a bad penny. Whatever crude, brash, and brassy intensity Lauzier limns into his drawings is somewhat diluted in this look at his world by director Francois Leterrier.