Claire: Mathilde Seigner	Michel: Laurent Lucas
Harry: Sergi Lopez	Michel's father: Dominique Rozan
Michel's mother: Liliane Rovere	Erik: Michel Fau
Prune: Sophie Guillemin	Director: Dominik Moll

30 Second Bottom Line: When two college buddies have a chance encounter at a highway rest stop, the "friend" from hell is reintroduced into the life of an unsuspecting family man.

Story Line: Claire and Michel (Mathilde Seigner and Laurent Lucas) are on a summer holiday, struggling with three young daughters in their small car, with no air conditioning. They are on the way to a fixer upper house they bought a few years back, which still needs a lot of work; but they are happy with it. Their biggest problem is dealing with Michel's parents (Liliane Rovere and Dominique Rozan), who want to give them more financial help than they care to receive. When they arrive at the house, they are surprised to find that the master bath has been remodeled without their knowledge.

While taking a break at a rest stop, Michel is recognized, by an old college mate, Harry (Sergi Lopez). Notice I did not say friend. Harry starts up a chat and insists that he buy them dinner. Michel reluctantly accepts Harry's story that they went to college together because of facts that Harry conveys. What really bothers Michel is that he is somewhat embarrassed because he has absolutely no memory of Harry.

Harry is the quiet type, though a bit persistent, with his gentle smile and soft-spoken manner. He is well to do, with a Mercedes Benz, apparently plenty of money and a drop-dead gorgeous, chesty blond girlfriend, named Prune (Sophie Gullemin). She's a wonderfully nice person whose elevator does not go all the way to the top. On the way to the country house, they start out in their own cars, but soon the girls are riding in the air-conditioned comfort of the Mercedes.

Michel has to call his parents to apologize for not stopping by their place on the way to the country. He decides to drive the two hours it takes to pick them up and bring them to the house, because his father's heart condition keeps him from driving anywhere other than short trips in the neighborhood. While Michel is away, Harry helps Claire out with alternate transportation when her car breaks down on a grocery-shopping trip. This is the first sign that he is more than just an eccentric old college buddy, flush with cash, when he offers to buy her a new car on the spot.

Tell Me More About It: The events which occur are unpredictable and probably unrealistic. However, there are people who will go to extremes to ingratiate themselves to others. For those folks, there is a thin line between being a nice person who is willing to share the wealth and a psychopath.

Harry turns life upside down for Michel and his family. Michel's a nice guy who loves his wife and girls, as well as his overbearing and kindhearted parents.

This film does better than most with its effective use of foreshadowing. That is, you see things early in the movie, which will later have an impact. Winding roads, a dried up well, a cell phone with a unique ring, and a few other observations, may bring a surprising smile to your lips, even if the reason is not funny.

With a Friend Like Harry is a sinister comedy, which I believe is better than American Beauty. It illuminates the dark side of the human soul. Even for those of us who would never think of doing harm to anyone else, there may come a time… when you do what you gotta do. You can't change the past, but you sure can have an impact on the future.