Rien à déclarer

I suspect this movie grew out of the phenomenal success of Dany Boon's previous movie, Bienvenu chez les Ch'tis (2008), which set box office records in France two years before. That movie was about cultural differences between middle-class Frenchmen and the Ch'tis, the French who live in the far northeast corner of France (what was once the Nord Pas de Calais and is now trying to come up with a new name for itself). That movie plays on cultural stereotypes, true, but it is often very funny.

This one is less funny, frankly, though not without laughs.

This time the clash is between the French and the Belgians. More specifically, it is the story of a family of rabidly anti-French Belgians and the problems they cause for one of their own, who has had the misfortune to fall in love with a Frenchman (Boon). The jokes are usually pretty obvious, but the characters are generally likable - with the exception of the Belgian border patrol guard, who is just too extreme.

You won't be bored, but I can't imagine you'd come back for seconds.

This movie mainly interested me for it's principal subtext.

The overall mediocre comedy, which sometimes offers loud laughters, and the main intrigue itself is passable.

But, as said, the message of tolerance Is what makes the movie stand out from other like-minded comedies.

The movie exemplifies brilliantly the futility of endless bickering and hate towards your literal neighbors. It shows that, while mostly enshrined in geographical features, are still powerful imaginations in the minds of people.

This does not mean that one should forget his national heritage in a process of transnationalisation or to completely deny the less formidable aspects of another culture, but rather that one should embrace the cultural richness and simple humanity of one's surrounding.

Because the idea of Europe is one of tolerance and altruism. And it should be wholeheartedly defended, in my point of view.

I didn't laugh until I cried but I smiled a lot and overall I had a good time. The main characters are nice (except for the girlfriend, her acting was bad imo) and the plot is cute (although a bit basic)

I'm getting older and I'm looking at French comedies more and more often.

Not so long ago I watched something similar with the same director and actor in one of the main roles.

Well, as usual, there is almost nothing to say. The film is short and funny. What else does comedy need?

Someone might say that a good comedy also needs an interesting plot and half of the film should be devoted to drama. To which I will answer: She doesn't need it.

If a comedy is funny, then it's a good comedy. That's all!

Although the plot here is really interesting. By itself, it's simple, but that's how it plays out and how all the jokes fit into it. This is very well done.

Dany Boon's "Nothing to Declare" (2010) attempts to blend cross-border cultural clashes with comedic hijinks, but ultimately falls flat, delivering a lukewarm and utterly unmemorable cinematic experience. The film suffers from a severe lack of genuine humor, meandering aimlessly through predictable gags and tired stereotypes without ever truly eliciting a laugh. The supposed "charming" interactions between the customs officers feel forced and contrived, lacking the genuine spark and wit necessary to engage the audience. The dialogue, often laden with clichéd jokes about national differences and bureaucratic absurdity, feels painfully artificial, as if the writers simply strung together a series of predictable scenarios without any regard for natural conversation or relatable comedic timing. Instead of a fresh and insightful satire, it offers a superficial and often irritating spectacle of manufactured whimsy.

Is it worth watching? No, unless you have an exceptionally high tolerance for predictable comedy and a lack of genuine comedic depth. There are far more authentic and impactful comedies available.