Middle Class Movie: A Hit or Miss? Viewers React to Laure Calamy & Laurent Lafitte’s Comedy!

Eight years after his last feature film, Anthony Cordier returns with “Middle Class.” First gaining attention in 2005 with “Cold Showers,” which earned him the César Award for Best First Film, he followed up with “Happy Few” (2010) and “Gaspard at the Wedding” (2017). In 2020 and 2021, he directed the first two seasons of the TV series “UFO(s).” Throughout his career, Cordier has humorously and sharply explored themes related to class dynamics.

Accustomed to working with prestigious casts, Cordier once again gathers top-tier actors for “Middle Class.” The story follows Mehdi (played by Sami Outalbali), who expects a peaceful summer at his in-laws’ luxurious property (Laurent Lafitte and Élodie Bouchez). However, upon his arrival, a conflict erupts between his fiancée’s family and the villa’s caretakers (Ramzy Bedia and Laure Calamy). Coming from a modest background, Mehdi imagines he can mediate and reconcile everyone, but the tensions intensify.

What do the initial viewers think of Anthony Cordier’s new film?

With 193 ratings and 69 reviews, “Middle Class” currently holds an average audience score of 3.6 out of 5, making it the highest-rated film in the director’s body of work so far.

A Stellar Cast Drives This Social Comedy

Audiences have particularly appreciated the performances of the two duos: Ramzy Bedia and Laure Calamy on one side, and Laurent Lafitte and Élodie Bouchez on the other. The pervasive humor greatly enhances the effectiveness of this social satire.

Veronique Vinet (5/5): “A delightful film although a dark and biting comedy under a bright, colorful, and polished image. All actors are fantastic, even though Laure Calamy does not stray from her role as the spirited troublemaker. A sharp critique of the world of the ultra-rich and their staff.”

Iris C. (5/5): “The best film I saw at the Directors’ Fortnight in 2025! A well-written, well-acted, well-directed, and especially FUNNY comedy, it feels good!!!”

Brut618 (5/5): “Hilarious film. Biting as needed, very well written with a special mention for Laurent Lafitte whose lines hit the mark every time. A must-see!! Rare to find comedies so polished….”

EtEM (4.5/5): “I saw it in preview with an almost full house, and it was a great comedy. Laurent Lafitte, Élodie Bouchez, Laure Calamy, Ramzy Bedia… The film is carried by actors as talented as they are committed to their roles, from the stars to the emerging talents. ‘Middle Class’ already succeeds in what we expect from a comedy: to make us laugh. The jokes are tasty, and the audience’s laughter was frequent. Besides being very funny, the film is far from stupid and carries a political message.”

Corinne76100 (4/5): “A very caustic film about the high society in relation to the common folk. The dialogues are sharp, and the situations are hilarious. A great time thanks to a perfect performance by all.”

A Divisive Ending

The ending has proven to be a real sticking point for viewers, with opinions also divided over its pacing.

Cinévore24 (3.5/5): “A really nice class struggle with quite funny dialogues and a well-chosen cast (Lafitte plays the haughty and detestable characters very well). However, a social satire that lacks real impact, loses some strength in its second half, being too redundant, and concludes too easily. It’s not ‘Parasite’ by any stretch.”

Cam Pattier (3/5): “A film I watched out of curiosity. The casting is really good and coherent, everyone performs well making the story believable. The idea of showing tensions between social backgrounds is interesting, and it sometimes leads to amusing scenes. However, it also falls into some clichés, and the pace isn’t always steady. A film that’s fine to watch, but didn’t leave a lasting impression on me.”

Pierre Kuzor (3/5): “A biting, topical comedy on social fracture and class struggle showing two sides that can no longer communicate or live together without immediate verbal and physical violence taking over.”

In Conclusion

With “Middle Class,” Anthony Cordier delivers a biting social comedy, bolstered by a solid cast that hits the mark. The humor and energy of the actor duos add to the strength of this class relations satire. However, some viewers lament an uneven pace and an overly simplistic ending, which weaken the overall impact. A bold, funny, and caustic film, but one that doesn’t always convince.