Master cinematic humorist. Take your pick. Detractors have labelled him a bore, simplistic and rambling. I side with the fans. His most explicit theme is the plight of the individual in an automated and sterile universe.
Mistaken identity is a favorite gimmick.
Dogs and children abound. His films are almost entirely without plot and are painstakingly constructed to appear improvised. His antics, played out with the innocence of an inquisitive child who unknowingly leaves a trail of disaster in his wake, are often side splitting. One of Hulot's tricks is to disappear from the action as soon as it is set in motion, as though his only purpose is to disrupt. Of the five features and one television movie on show at the Cinematheque, the features are worth checking out.