Gregphilip

Nora Arnezeder reminds me of movie stars of the thirties : beautiful, charming, she can sing, dance, act... Star quality ! As for the film itself, the story is rather simple, which I come to realize, is often what makes it good. It's not so much what the story is about but rather how you tell it. And in that case, you get to laugh, cry, you care about that Pigoil who looses his job, his wife and even his son and who doesn't lose hope, about Milou and Douce's love story. You'll love the great new songs, the homage to Busby Berkeley, Jacky's lousy jokes (a reprise of Kad's own TV skit) and secondary characters played by first-rate comedians like François Morel and the great Pierre Richard. What's not to like ?

I was lucky enough to see this film in Avignon more than a month before its national release. How refreshing ! How cute ! It's a documentary like I had never seen before in its shape and subject.

M. Lopez teaches a class in Ardeche, somewhere where the children all go to the same class until they're 10 years old or so. M. Philibert follows them and doesn't intervene, only through editing (except for a straight-forward and very moving interview of the teacher).

M. Lopez really does care about his pupils, he comforts them, helps them with personal problems, with their work, with their lives. He will soon retire and it gives a strong feeling of nostalgia to the film. Some moments are quite emotional, others are quite funny due to children's words. I'm not going to spoil it for you but, keep you eyes on Jojo. He's the cutest little kid ever ! Everything he says or does will make you want to have a kid... or more kids.

Beautiful, simple and sweet.

You don't know what magic means until you have seen this series. They don't make them like this anymore. Yuu is a 'magical girl' that lives a normal life. But then one day she meets a cute creature that gives her the ability to transform into an older girl, Creamy Mami, who will soon become a singing star... From then on she will have to live two very rich lives, with magic to help her.

No ugly alien, no fights with powers used as weapons, the kind of show for which they have lost the recipe. According to cartoon characters nowadays, all boys and girls want to do is fight. Many cartoons I see on TV are now computer generated, which would be fine if it meant better and smoother animation. Unfortunately, it just means cheaper production costs, and actually worse quality !

If you want a show that will make you and your kids dream, sing catchy songs and overall spend a very good time, look for this series and the video sequels... They are all available in DVD in Japan (no subtitles, though), and in France (as "Merveilleuse Creamy" for the dubbed version and as "Creamy Mami" for another box set in Japanese with French subtitles), and... cross your fingers for an American release... some day.