Tutti in piedi

Great actors, interesting plot. I just saw it in French ( I am studying it) and besides being great practice, it was also entertaining!

Jocelyn (Franck Dubosc) is a 40-something and boss of a firm dealing with well-known brands of sportshoes. His business is in Paris, but to suit his lifestyle he lives in the suburbs. He's a man that you without many problems could call shallow, searching for women all the time, but preferably just for one night stands. One day he receives a phonecall from his brother Lucien (Laurent Bateau) saying that their mother is dead.

Arriving late for the funeral talking with Lucien who recommends that he visits the house of their mother to see if he can find anything of interest. He arrives at the house, and sits in his mother's wheelchair as a guest arrives, it's the young, good looking, neighbor Julie (Caroline Anglade). She's a handicap assistant, and because of the wheelchair, she thinks that Jocelyn is handicapped. Julie invites him for a trip to her family in the countryside in the coming weekend. Jocelyn stays in the role as a handicapped person, counting on an affair with Julie. But she has other plans, she wants to introduce him to her sister, who "also" is handicapped and wheelchair user. Arriving to the family home, of course in the wheelchair, he meets the sister Florence (Alexandra Lamy). It's not really love at first sight, but they agree to meet again. Jocelyn desides to bring his two, only, friends to the dinner date. Firstly it's his secretary Marie (Elsa Zylberstein) and secondly his doctor Max (Gérard Darmon).

Now, what probably never have happened before he, against his will, falls in love. Florence is very glad to have met Jocelyn. They are talking together much easier this time, and he finds out that she plays tennis and that she's playing the violin in a well known orchestra.

First Jocelyn secretly watch Florence play tennis, buy through circumstances they meet again. They're now really start liking each other. So much that he travels to Eastern Europe to attend one of her concerts. Of course still in his mother's wheelchair. Jocelyn's biggest problem is now, how to tell Florence that he's not handicapped!

This French film is very well performed, right down to the smallest part. The actor/singer Claude Brasseur has a small part as Jocelyn and Lucien's father, in one of his last performances. The film is directed by Dubosc in his debut in directing.

Co - writer/director Franck Dubosc's Rolling to You is apparently one of those movies that completely splits critics and general audiences. It has a staggeringly low score of 29% on Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer from critics, as against an audience score of 65%, which exactly matches the IMDB user score. The general critical consensus is that it is unfunny and somehow disrespectful of those with physical disabilities. I thought just the opposite. It's really quite humorous, treats those with disabilities as real people, capable of leading independent, enriched lives and is quite the engrossing rom - com to boot.

The director himself plays the male lead of Jocelyn, a successful CEO of a French sports shoe company, who, besides being a confirmed playboy bachelor is a serial liar. In his deceased mother's apartment shortly after (almost missing) her funeral, he meets her new and sexy neighbour Marie, a carer, whilst happening to sit in his mother's wheel chair. Hoping to curry sympathy with Marie, with a view to seducing her, Jocelyn impersonates a paraplegic, not realising that Marie intends to play matchmaker with him and her wheelchair bound, very attractive sister, Florence played by Alexandra Lamy. Much hilarity follows, as slowly but surely Jocelyn is drawn to the very appealing and talented Florence, but is intimidated at the thought of revealing his pretence, known only by his brother Lucien and best friend Max.

The dialogue is funny and the sets and exterior French locations are bright and inviting. Both Dubosc and Lamy excel in their roles, elevating what could read as generic rom-com story tropes into something more. It is Lamy however that steals every scene, using every opportunity to present herself with much strength, intelligence, and wit. (Note however she is not disabled in real life.)

This is the sort of jocular French comedy that in the hands of American producers might end up being some sort of unsubtle Adam Sandler/Jim Carrey remake vehicle, which might then give the critics something genuine to complain about. But as it stands Dubosc has made a very entertaining, diverting enterprise. Don't be put off seeing and appreciating it.

Here in France, Franck Dubost was known as an actor in nonpretentious movies, and I was not expecting much of this one. But as an author & director he shines! ___ The scenario breaks new ground: handicap was taboo in movies - in France just as it is in Hollywood. The film covers the subject with sensitivity, avoiding the obvious pitfalls. ___ Actor Franck is better here than his usual self; but the stellar performance is by Alexandra Lamy: energetic, empathic and beautiful. Elsa Zylberstein gives a good performance in a small part. Claude Brasseur & Gérard Darmon do the job. ___ Overall a good movie, eminently watchable.

Seen this on an O/S flight (with sub titles). Loved it so much, I watched it on the return flight 8 weeks later. Probably the best foreign language film I've seen - especially in the romantic comedy genre. Story was original, believable, funny, tragic & well executed. The cast seem perfectly matched & the writer & director have done an excellent job. Watch out for Jocelyn (the main character's) father - he's an absolute riot!!. Persevere with the subtitles - A must watch of 2018.