French Film (2007)

53% of critics liked it
(17 reviews)
64% of users liked it
(232 ratings)

English hang-ups about romance get satirically filtered through the perspective of French movies in this witty, cinematically-literate comedy helmed by British director Jackie Oudney and scripted by Aschlin Ditta. The creators set up two narratives: in a framing device, Eric Cantona stars as the… More English hang-ups about romance get satirically filtered through the perspective of French movies in this witty, cinematically-literate comedy helmed by British director Jackie Oudney and scripted by Aschlin Ditta. The creators set up two narratives: in a framing device, Eric Cantona stars as the elitist, pretentious French writer-director Thierry Grimandi, who could use a lesson in humility; he operates according to the mantra, "I consider myself lucky firstly because I am French, secondly because I make movies, thirdly because I understand love." As Grimandi periodically crops up to pontificate on film and relationships, a second narrative emerges. Hugh Bonneville stars as Jed Winter, a smug, unhappy British journalist enduring a super-dysfunctional relationship with long-term girlfriend Cheryl (Victoria Hamilton). She just rejected his marriage proposal out of dissatisfaction for the lack of romantic chemistry in their relationship; they tentatively remain together, but that all seems poised to change when Jed begins to develop feelings for his friend Marcus's girl, Sophie (Anne-Marie Duff) - and it just so happens that Marcus falls for someone else, leaving the situation wide open for Jed to waltz in and sweep Sophie off her feet. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Jackie Oudney
Written By: Aschlin Ditta
Genres: Comedy, Romance

In Theaters: Jan 28, 2009 Wide
On DVD: Sep 21, 2010

Critic Reviews

Don Groves, sbs.com.au
A bland, unfunny Gallic/English stew.
Victor Olliver, Teletext
Director Oudney's great skill is to play a touch on national stereotypes (that's comedy for you) before delving into the heart of her characters.
Edward Porter, Times [UK]
The director, Jackie Oudney, gives Bonneville and Duff's scenes a proper romcom glow, but Aschlin Ditta's script resorts to a lot of faffing about to postpone the inevitable happy ending.
Philip French, Observer [UK]
The film is clever, funny and emotionally truthful and the parodies of Grimandi's films are deadly accurate.
Dave Calhoun, Time Out
Not a good film by a long stretch, but there's something so harmless about this debut directorial effort (from a script by Aschlin 'Scenes of a Sexual Nature' Ditta) that to pull it apart would be like savaging a child's first attempt at storywriting.
Jon Fortgang, Film4
Sacre bleu! C'est un perky British rom a la com avec un great self-mocking performance by Eric Cantona.
Wendy Ide, Times [UK]
The writing - unfunny, repetitive - is barely sitcom standard; the lighting is brutal; the performances desperate.
Andrew Pulver, Guardian [UK]
The result, however, is uneven: lurching from little-Englander spoofery to heartfelt emotionalising and back again - often in the same scene.
Tim Evans, Sky Movies
This is a rich, beautifully written exploration of romantic self-delusion. The playing - particularly Bonneville - is assured and the dialogue constantly fires off cracking one-liners.
Christopher Tookey, Daily Mail [UK]
The actors give their all, but there's not enough here that's fresh. French Film is plodding and predictable - frightfully English, and not in a good way.
David Edwards, Daily Mirror [UK]
A relationships drama with almost nothing to say about relationships - except that they ain't easy - the only memorable thing about this is a supporting turn by former footballer Eric Cantona.
Mark Adams, Sunday Mirror [UK]
An engagingly lightweight romcom.
, Sun Online
This is a British film which features Eric Cantona poking fun at pretentious Gallic movies, it turns out to be surprisingly amusing.
Karl French, Financial Times
The treatment of French cinema is rather facile, and ultimately this is no more substantial than a half-decent television sitcom, or one of the slight, love-themed sketches in Scenes of a Sexual Nature, writer Aschlin Ditta's previous credit.
Allan Hunter, Daily Express
Cantona provides a few bright moments in French Film, a damp squib of a romantic comedy with little in the way of wit, flair or sparkle.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
This romantic pastiche is rather uneven and corny, but is packed with characters who are thoroughly intriguing. We may not like them very much, but we recognise ourselves in there.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Engaging, frequently amusing and surprisingly thoughtful British romcom, enlivened by strong performances from its four leads and a likeable comic turn from Cantona.