Der kleine Nick

To be honest, this movie didn't appeal to me because I couldn't stand the sugary nostalgia of this old France. But the kid wanted to see it again, so I complied.

And I realized that my feeling was very wrong: the movie is a tender and accurate vision of the world through the children eyes. They see it in a way opposite to adults. Thus, it was a perfect movie for the kid and it brought me very old memories about my childhood.

The cast is terrific: Kad Merad as a father can show all his big heart. Among the kids, Clotaire was my favorite with his dreamy and dumb attitude. And it's funny because he could act for the son of the actress Cecile de France.

But, rather than a great movie, it is a great adaptation because we mustn't forget that it's actually a collection of illustrated stories. And I find that the opening credits, which look like strips are the best idea ever for any adaptation movie!

I love the "Petit Nicholas" books and René Goscinny is a personal god of mine, so I was very sceptical about this film. Especially because it's not "real-life" rather than a cartoon, whereas Jean-Jacques Sempés illustrations were essential to the charme of the books. But then the reviews were good and I gave it a try.

If you look at Goscinny's humour, it's almost reactionary. There's the fat guy, the rich kid, the dimwit, the four-eyed squealer, the easily- ired father, the just-a-housewife mother. And they all translate well onto film. Goscinny's humour stems from letting those characters interact predictably but creatively and with perfect timing, and this movie's makers managed to closely reproduce Goscinny's genius.

It's funny and escapist -- nothing more. Childhood as it should be. Sempé himself said that he created the childhood for little Nick he never had for himself.

This is a very entertaining movie.Loved the opening credits were very creative. Kids looked adorably innocent when they are discussing about grave issues, which are actually mostly imaginary.Looks like the movie was made from real incidents or observations.The potion looked very similar to something I had made during school days, when I got hooked in Chemistry . Characters were well made, consistent and well played.Streets in France looks so beautiful.The beauty of the movie comes from its close resemblance to real life. Scenes of the medical check up, parallel parking, boss visiting the house were hilarious. Good background music too.Well crafted by creative minds,and great story.

This movie is amazing. It is not often that I go to see a foreign movie, but people had told me how good this one was so I just went. And I do not regret it.

The actors all seem to fit perfectly for their part. I found it hard to imagine how they were any different in real life. One gets kind of nostalgic, seeing those children in their school uniforms. The story is just wonderful, and it is really, really humorous, the entire audience laughed throughout the movie. It is not that kind of funny in the way normal Adam Sandler and those Hollywood movies are. It has something more to it, it is not, well, hollow (cannot really describe it). The way the director has got this set up, to see the world the way a kid sees it, to look into what's going through their mind, this is all just wonderful. I walked out of there with a little smile on, I was all fuzzy after having laughed so much.

I would really like it if my town would start showing more foreign movies like this one.

I didn't watch lots of movies, but this is the sweetest movie I've ever seen. The whole story is about love among parents and kids, teachers and kids, and love between kids, parents, friends. It touches the tenderest part of my heart.

Every kid should be decently raised up that way. Your parents love you, but won't spoil you. Your teacher care about you, but won't push you too hard. Your friends support you, though sometimes they envy you, you always cover each others' ass, and have fun together no matter how stupid it looks like.

Despite the setting is in an old France that I don't know much about, the story would fits in any period of human history (except for war times). The sweet love, awkward moments, unnecessary worries, war between teachers and students together composed a harmonious symphony.