Some historians have taken a more positive view of Petain now, or at least a more tempered one. I've read some opinions of him preserving France's independence (to a degree, at least) and partially saving the French state; however, these views are largely in the minority, and most say that he was a collaborator who was in it out of fear and/or personal gain. He was a very reactionary man, and probably agreed with a lot of the ideology of Nazi Germany, and Churchill described him as a "defeatist."

EDIT: That said, de Gaulle did have a modicum of respect for the man, and while his actions in WWII are considered shameful by the great majority of the French, his actions in WWI are still looked highly upon. He's a very conflicted historical figure, and a very interesting one.