Hollywoo

Hollywoo is probably not a movie to watch with your grandparent. In this movie, get ready to watch a dodgy love movie, see cringe-worthy jokes, find a predictable ending and absurd relationships. It was not good. However, if you are an English student learning french, it has a good range of difficult vocabulary to learn. As a whole, this movie has a cringe factor of 11/10, sad jokes and about 10 minutes too long. To be fair, the acting was well done and I liked the concept of switching back and forth between English and french. So, i would rate this movie a 6/10 because it is definitely not the best movie I've seen, but not the worst by far.

This movie will never come to the U.S., and that's a shame, because it's very clever, and gives a wonderful glimpse of how Americans are seen by the French. It tells the story of a young French actress, of sorts, who earns her living dubbing the voice of a glamorous American TV star who appears in a soap opera that has become very popular in France. The American star decides to quit the series, which means that the French actress will lose her one decent job. She goes to Hollywood to try to convince the American to stay on the show. In the process, we get to see a French director's presentation of modern-day Hollywood to the French. VERY different from the current Franco-American hit The Artist, which is a better film, but still very much worth watching.

I can understand why this movie was not a big success. It plays on the idea of a dual culture. Florence Foresti and Jamel Debouze are constantly switching between broken English and french and making fun of a lot of American stereotypes and on the way French people speak English. After having lived for a while in the US, I found myself laughing a lot just because I got the reference. They might be super witty but it was enough for me. Foresti was playing her usual character (the one in her stand up comedy) so it was funny if you already like that exuberant character. Jamel played a character that I think he never played before: a kind of Arsene Lupin of this century and I think it was a surprising element of this movie. To conclude, I would say that it's the kind of movie that would mostly appeal to people knowing a bit of both French and American culture and speaking both language helps too.

First of all let's get one thing straight; this film does not set itself out to be a classic!

I have watched many great French movies over the years and whilst this film is a long way from being one of my favourites, it is nonetheless a fun easy-to-watch film and this is precisely what the films sets out to be! There are some humorous scenes in this film and the two main actors play their roles well. You might not burst out laughing but you will certainly smile to yourself whilst watching the film. I think people who give the film negative reviews must take themselves and films in general way too seriously. The film is a great one to watch if you are studying French as it gives you a chance to see French and English together. You can see how the French view American culture and see the French laugh at themselves struggling with English. If every time you watched a film you expected it to be a masterpiece then more often than not you will be disappointed. However if like me, sometimes you just want to watch something entertaining (and maybe challenge your French), then this film is great for that!

Read it here: http://squeerelist.blogspot.com/2013/06/hollywoo-2011.html

Jennifer Marshall is Hollywood's It Girl starring in the over-publicized TV show L.A. Couples. Jeanne is her French dubbing artist whose career depends on Marshall's fame. When Jennifer decides to retire after her co-star and boyfriend cheats on her, Jeanne feels like her own career is over. She flies to LA to meet Jennifer and try to make her reconsider... It's a funny and fresh movie displaying the views of the French on Hollywood and its excessive way of life. The main actors are very popular French comedians (Florence Foresti & Jamel Debbouze) and I think you'll find this movie funny if you already know Foresti's work. It may not be a good movie for someone who is not into contemporary French culture. The cast is very eclectic and you'll find American, French, Canadian actors and more. Hollywoo may not end up in my Top 10 Comedies but I spent an enjoyable moment watching it. You should definitely give it a try and share your opinion with me!

1 reason to watch: if you have any interest in French comedians