Customer Reviews

Jean-Philippe

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I stumbled on this film by flipping channels on the satellite service. I'm American but I recognized the two actors from "Crime Spree" and "Intimate Strangers" respectively. The basic story is about a clerical worker who gets conked on the head and enters an alternative universe where rock star Hallyday is an everyday fellow who used to play music. (Jean-Phillipe Smet is Hallyday's birth name.) In reality Hallyday is a huge huge star in France and Belgium. I saw several articles labeling him equivalent to Elvis. The film is a lot of fun following Luchini as an obsessed fan deciding to be Hallyday s manager and restore his career. Much music some slapstick action and a good chemistry between the leads and their confused significant others family co-workers etc. This is definitely worth checking out. (I see it isn t currently available at Amazon.)

I loved this movie. It is fun and clean and clever. The premice is valid. I think you enjoy it much better if you have the cultural knowledge of who Johnny Hallyday is as well as how great an actor Fabrice Luchini is. As a French teacher I use it in my advanced class as the students are familiar with Johnny by the 4th year.

Jean-Philippe (Original French Version - With English Subtiles)

Johnny Halladay is the French equivalent of Elvis. Just say "Johnny" in France or Belgium and everyone immediately knows you are speaking of Johnny Halladay. This film is based on the premise that "Johnny" missed his big break and the ensuing chaos for his No. 1 fan (played by Fabrice Lucchini). Johnny, of course, plays himself. This film gives you the opportunity to hear (and appreciate more than ever) the beauty of Johnny's voice as he sings in several scenes without all the overpowering music. After seeing this film, you will walk with a bounce because Fabrice's natural and real "joie de vivre" comes across stronger than ever in this film, and it is contagious. Enjoy!!

francophile bklyn girl