Eu Não Sou um Homem Fácil

Most of comedy movies are just movies whose plots aim nothing but people's laughs. But "Je ne suis pas un homme facile" is a funny movie, excellent for making you laugh, have fun, chill and to make you "wear the woman's shoes" by making men to play their social roles and "vice versa".

Honestly, this movie was thought-provoking all the way around, but I've never seen a movie with such an unsatisfactory ending. Honestly, it ruined the movie for me, way too abrupt.

I actually didn't realize how much of a patriarchal society we live in until the tables were turned entirely like in this film. This is the first time I've come into rate a movie on iMDb as I was so shocked on many accounts watching this movie. It makes you think how much women have adjusted their behavior, acted accordingly in order to live in a male-dominated society. By seeing women act horribly, but actually very similarly to men in today's society, it re-emphasizes how men still dominate the society we live in today. (Then again not all men are horrible, but some men think it's okay to act in a certain way because they are men.) I think about how I have been conditioned to act a certain way in order to fit into an order that has already been set largely by men. I think about all the men (and women) who enforce certain stereotypes on women. I think about how many rules I have to follow because I am a woman. Anyways, really recommend watching it with both men and women!

This film came up on Netflix and I started watching not knowing it was only released today. It deals with the current issues between the genders in a comic but interesting way. Set in Paris (always a good start for a movie) Damien is a single man used to the entilements of a patriarchal society. After being rejected by Alexi a bang to his head takes him into a parallel world where women are the entitlemented gender. Damien finds it differicult to adjust to his new environment. In this world Alexi is a powerful author who sees potential in Damien's story. I enjoyed this movie and it's premise. The characters of the leads are strong in both worlds, but being a strong woman in a man's world is different to being a strong woman in a woman's world.

Damien is a male chauvinist pig of the first order - boorish, inconsiderate, all the trimmings... So it's no great surprise that Alexandra, his author friend's PR assistant has no time for Damien at all. Then after a bang on the head, Damien finds himself in a world where everyone's roles are subtly changed and the women wear the trousers. In this world, Alexandra is the famous author and she picks out Damien whose weird views she thinks might make a useful subject for her next book.

At each turn, the film begs the question, if the tables were turned, would the people respond in this or that way? The gender roles they depict are sometimes a bit extreme and the focus on the one topic is at times a bit relentless, but it does make you think. The tone of the piece is light and though it might be meant as a comedy, it's not laugh-out-loud funny.

The film is dubbed into English (from the original Parisian setting) which is a pity, but it has been done quite well so you soon stop noticing. Vincent Elbaz and particularly Marie-Sophie Ferndale put in strong performances in the lead parts and carry the film despite its weaknesses.