Brice de Nice

There are three types of French film. First, the films that do sufficiently well that they travel abroad and form part of the general image of what constitutes French cinema. Second, the vast majority of films that flop at home and end up as late-night television repeats. And third, those films which will never be seen outside of France because their reference-points are too franco-français, but which are somehow perfect for the domestic market. A classic example of this last category is the new hit Brice de Nice. No-one will ever hear of it outside of France (and maybe Belgium and Switzerland) but it is a huge success at the box-office here -- arguably therefore a far better cultural insight than the normal "auteur" fodder. Brice de Nice (pronounced to rhyme with 'vice' for some reason) is an undemanding romp about a long-haired surf dude living on the Riviera. That is the first joke, because of course there are no waves in the Mediterranean. He wears a yellow T-shirt and black baggy trousers, and is obsessed by the Patrick Swayze film Point Break. Jean Dujardin, the actor who plays Brice, created the character on the stand-up circuit, and it was via the Internet that word of the film got about. Since it was released a couple of months ago it has achieved cult status among the school-going public. I went with my two eldest (aged 11 and 9) and they had to explain half the jokes. Brice's trademark is a downward chopping motion with the right arm, conducted to the word "Cassé!" Apparently this is what you chant in the playground when you beat someone in an argument. Everyone is doing it now, I'm told. Highly immature -- but good fun.
http://www.bricedenice.com/