Comments on: urban prankster

urban prankster

Dave Faris — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:52:43 -0800

Rémi Gaillard leaves a trail of befuddled witnesses and victims in his wake.

(thanks, jason.)

By: patricio

patricio — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:57:53 -0800

That Rocky one is brilliant, thanks.

By: Jody Tresidder

Jody Tresidder — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:00:27 -0800

Quel total hoot! (Insufferable little fucker, isn't he?)

By: shmegegge

shmegegge — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:07:48 -0800

the great escape one amused the hell out of me. that takes a fair bit of balls.

By: OmieWise

OmieWise — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:08:51 -0800

It's tough to watch the Rocky one first, because it seems to be the best. Although the soccer one is also quite good, even accounting for editing, he's a good shot. Nice post.

By: odinsdream

odinsdream — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:08:55 -0800

LOLWOULDBESHOTINTHEUS

By: zerobyproxy

zerobyproxy — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:12:20 -0800

Dickishly funny.

By: arnicae

arnicae — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:12:52 -0800

brilliant. Totally funny.

By: arnicae

arnicae — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:13:20 -0800

Though if I was the guy whose bike got hit with the soccer ball or who had my fishing pole javelined into the lake, I would have kept chasing him.

By: Dr-Baa

Dr-Baa — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:17:25 -0800

Le Christ, ce que un trou du cul.

By: Goofyy

Goofyy — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:20:52 -0800

LOL! A Frenchman in football gear! (have they given up on soccer?)

By: Blazecock Pileon

Blazecock Pileon — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:27:08 -0800

Hilarious. Cheers.

By: BorgLove

BorgLove — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:38:14 -0800

Good thing that little fucker is fast, cause he's a right shithead.

By: Corduroy

Corduroy — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:39:37 -0800

The only one I wasn't really amused by was the tennis one. I'm in a library laughing with headphones looking like a fool. Thanks!

By: Corduroy

Corduroy — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:42:20 -0800

And I can't get enough of the cocky shit head walk he does every time after kicking the football in this one.

By: adamrice

adamrice — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:42:33 -0800

Where does this guy get the balls to pull these stunts?

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:43:15 -0800

I really liked the bodybuilding one. Good stuff all 'round.

By: shmegegge

shmegegge — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:00:42 -0800

I'm trying to remember enough high school french to translate that bit at the end. something like "It's an act of no importance that is done by no one of importance?" I feel like that's not it.

By: newmoistness

newmoistness — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:09:48 -0800

Jacques-Ass!

By: schyler523

schyler523 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:14:41 -0800

I really like this! Too funny.

By: tkolar

tkolar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:22:54 -0800

Where does this guy get the balls to pull these stunts? Dunno, it's much easier when there's someone with a camera standing there. In fact, one might even suggest that most of these are staged.

By: sveskemus

sveskemus — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:24:26 -0800

Christ, what an asshole.

By: doctor_negative

doctor_negative — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:30:54 -0800

Thanks, I needed a good laugh. The Rocky one is brilliant.

By: languagehat

languagehat — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:33:06 -0800

I'm trying to remember enough high school french to translate that bit at the end. "It's by doing anything (i.e., absolutely anything, anything at all) that you become anybody (i.e., whoever you want to be)." I hope one of those guys whose drinks he stole caught up with him and beat the shit out of him. That said, some of it's pretty funny.

By: sir_rubixalot

sir_rubixalot — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:37:32 -0800

Hilarious. I thoroughly enjoyed the rocky one. I was thinking the same thing languagehat, and they are very funny. I am wondering though how many are staged, if any. In the US they would be staged or he would get shot/arrested, because clearly he is a terrorist stealing McDonald's fountain drinks.

By: Outlawyr

Outlawyr — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:51:48 -0800

Hm. Just seems annoying to me.

By: gottabefunky

gottabefunky — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:58:49 -0800

In the ~~soocer~~ football one I love the open-handed posture all the security guys have, like dude, c'mon. Why you making me work?

By: oneironaut

oneironaut — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:15:16 -0800

My thought is, that camera must be hidden. Because some of those people are so pissed, and he is gone so fast, that they never go after the camera. And the camera often is pretty well set up. It's not following him around...he comes into the frame and does his thing, even when it is at full run (like stealing the soda in front of McDonalds."

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:19:13 -0800

gottabefunky, I agree. Most people seem pretty much bemused more than anything else–even the policeman that comes out of the station that Remi kicked the ball into. And the football americano one, the people are laughing because they know it's just a goof. Way to go French people!

By: vivelame

vivelame — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:20:02 -0800

The first "goal" on the football (sorry.. soccer?) one had me laugh out loud. It's a police car, btw.

By: [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST]

[NOT HERMITOSIS-IST] — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:23:51 -0800

In the US they would be staged or he would get shot/arrested Not really. The element of surprise works wonders in public places, leaving most people just shaking their heads. Most people fantasize about a violent or legal comeuppance afterward (like everyone is doing here) but in the moment, it's just a blip that barely registers before it's over. After this many pranks, I'm betting he HAS gotten in fights occasionally, but still finds the attention entertaining.

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:26:20 -0800

I'll also bet that he's got some cash on hand to smooth over rough patches. Just sayin'.

By: vivelame

vivelame — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:31:16 -0800

Mister_A: i seriously doubt it would do him any good with the police or army (regular victims of his). The last "urban touchdown" is about a cop doing some ticketing for parking violations. His two weapons are speed, surprise, and ruthless efficiency. Nobody expects the oh never mind.

By: Dave Faris

Dave Faris — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:35:27 -0800

I did feel a little sorry for the woman in the hot dog trailer. A football kicked in there most assuredly caused a bunch of havoc that an innocent bystander just doesn't deserve.

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:43:38 -0800

I appreciate your meaning, vivelame; I was thinking more of the people like hot dog woman or the fishing pole guy–them you can mollify with cash and the revelation that it's going to be on TV! Sort of. Is it?

By: nosila

nosila — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:24:12 -0800

This feels exceedingly un-staged to me. It's kind of in the spirit of Tom Greene or Jackass, but the chest-beating is at least self-aware. As for the innocent bystanders: when I was a "right little shit-head" in college, I used to enjoy doing outlandish things in public places that often greatly offended the sensibilities of the US citizenry. About 90% of people would do absolutely nothing about it, 5-7% might make a little whimper, and remaining group of badasses would chase/trip/scream obscenities. Being female, I never got hit, though people almost certainly thought about it. There's a little vague anecdotal evidence for you scientific types.

By: redteam

redteam — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 15:39:31 -0800

OMG! I saw the Rocky one a long time ago and I always wondered if that guy had done other stuff! Thank you thank you thank you!!

By: whir

whir — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:04:25 -0800

I'm totally impressed by his ability to get people to physically chase him around (and his ability to escape from them). There's a little more information about him on Wikipedia.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:41:34 -0800

Okay, the Mr. Universe Body Builder contest was amusing.

By: Durn Bronzefist

Durn Bronzefist — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:59:21 -0800

Excellent.

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:28:33 -0800

I did feel a little sorry for the woman in the hot dog trailer. Yes, though he is a really good shot. I don't imagine you get to do many re-takes in situations like that.

By: Burhanistan

Burhanistan — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:41:44 -0800

That dude has probably stolen hundreds of soccer balls.

By: hincandenza

hincandenza — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:16:48 -0800

OmieWise: Although the soccer one is also quite good, even accounting for editing, he's a good shot.

Both the soccer ones- put it where you want it, and foot 2008- are incredible just in terms of some of the shots he makes. The ricochet shots are amazing- bouncing off the doors into the vans, off his head, off the base of the fountain, nothing but splash, the end of Foot 2008 where he "idly" kicks it across the street, bouncing it back to the wall and the ground and into the trash, etc, etc. Yes, we didn't see the 20 times he tried it and it didn't work, but even given the power of editing, he's damn, er, handy, with the football. I don't think they're staged (that the bystanders are not in on the gag) because like Jackass, Trigger Happy TV, et al, people are often as much befuddled and amused as they are angry.

By: ErWenn

ErWenn — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:32:54 -0800

This is the sort of thing where the humor seems (to me anyway) to be far outweighed by the assholery. I can maybe see stealing someone's soda or volley ball for a 30-second take if he compensates them somehow immediately afterward. I find it hard to believe that he paid for that huge chunk of meat that he probably rendered unfit for sale*, but there, the funny gives the dickishness a run for its money. However, doing pushups on top of some random girl on the beach is practically sexual molestation, and for me, it completely killed the mood for the whole video. *Yes, it's probably perfectly safe, but health safety rules can be pretty strict (at least here in the US).