Film reviews and movies in the cinema.
Bienvenue chez les Ch'tis (Welcome to the Sticks)
Comic writer-director Dany Boon’s broad, non-PC, supposedly ‘heartwarming’ farce trades in regional prejudices within France that may bemuse audiences outside that country. Provençal postmaster Philippe (discombobulated but bonhomous Merad) is posted north after impersonating the disabled in order to procure a sought-after Côte d’Azur transfer. Sentenced to two years among the smelly-cheese-and-offal-loving, lisping burghers of Bergues, south of Dunkirk, he initially expects a cold reception. His well-travelled uncle has told him of a community of retarded coal miners existing in temperatures approaching -50˚C who pronounce ‘a’ as ‘o’, but Philippe warms to the dietary and dialectically challenged locals (notably Boon’s ingénue, Antoine). But will Philippe’s sun-worshipping son and spouse respond as positively to the land of frost, friendship and fricadelle-et-frites? There are mildly amusing, département-pleasing setpieces – the Dunkirk carnival, in particular, is clearly a hoot – and a soupçon of sentimental uplift, but the most fun comes with the triple- ‘s’-sprayed subtitles. Fancy ssshom Coco-Colo, anyone?
Length: 106 minutes
Country of origin: France
Year of production: 2008
Certificate: PG
Parental guidance advised
Director: Dany Boon
Cast: Kad Merad, Dany Boon, Zoé Félix, Lorenzo Ausilia-Foret, Anne Marivin.
Opens: Thu Oct 16









