what?
For years the Nord Pas-de-Calais has been stereotyped as a miserable
hell of disused coal mines and rusting factories, and its inhabitants as
depressed, violent alcoholics who speak an impenetrable patois, Ch'timi.
This all changed a few weeks ago, with the release of comedian Dany
Boon's hilarious new comedy, which became a huge hit at the French box
office, where a massive 8 million tickets were sold in just two weeks. The
film retraces the misadventures of a postal worker who moves north for
work and finds himself unexpectedly charmed by the region's unusual
customs and warm hospitality as embodied by Boon's character Antoine,
the local postman. A charming and effervescent French film.
showing in...
Welcome to the Sticks (12A)
Starring:Kad Merad, Dany Boon, Zoe Felix Director:Dany Boon Year:2008 Duration:106 mins
Unlike Beaujolais and lorry driver protests, French comedy doesn't always travel well.
In Dany Boon's picture, a massive hit at home, post office manager Philippe (Kad Merad) pretends to be disabled to wangle a cushy transfer to the seaside.
In punishment, the diehard southerner is despatched to what he views as the frozen, savage, north. In the resulting culture clash the locals embrace Philippe whether he likes it or not.
While the humour is basic sitcom stuff – I don't think I've ever seen lisping in subtitles before – Merad makes an endearing loser-hero. Can't wait for the Edinburgh v Glasgow remake.
This broad comedy has been a sensation in France but I suspect it will play less well over here.
It’s a basic fish out of water comedy about an ambitious young man from the sophisticated south of France who is sent to a new job in the northern regions.
To the average French person the Nord-Pas de Calais region might as well be the ends of the earth. They even speak a local dialect which is virtually a foreign language.
Much of the film concerns his attempts to cope with the culture shock and his surprise at the local relative normality.
It is undoubtedly warm-hearted and for the most part well played but since a lot of the humour depends on the dialect, this doesn’t come across well in subtitles.
Review by Alison Rowat © The Herald
Review by Andy Dougan © Evening Times