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1. Knock (2017)
English Title: Knock
Genre: Comedy
IMDb: 6.1 / 10
This is the story of Dr. Knock, a former thug, who goes to Saint-Maurice, a little village, in order to replace the former doctor. His strategy to becoming rich is to team up with the local chemist and make people believe they are ill and need medication.
A funny yet savvy and interesting movie, with lots of thought-provoking material, amidst all the laughter.
2. Supercondriaque (2014)
English Title: Superchondriac
Genre: Comedy
IMDb: 6.0 / 10
Romain Faubert is a photographer for an online medical dictionary. Seeing and being exposed to all these ills and illnesses, he becomes a hypochondriac – much to his doctor’s dismay, Dimitri Zvenka. Until the day his doctor comes up with a plan: make his 40-year old patient fall in love with a woman to sort out the problem. Too bad Romain falls head over heels for his doctor’s sister.
As is to be expected with any Dany Boon movie, this story takes you from the funny to the hilarious, to the ridiculous and finally the absurd. Enjoy!
3. Radin! (2016)
English Title: Penny Pincher
Genre: Comedy
IMDb: 5.8 / 10
This is the story of François Gautier, a violoniste and miser. He avoids spending money at all costs and has few friends as a result. His life (and wallet) are turned upside down the day a young woman shows up at his door claiming to be his daughter. When François also starts falling in love with a woman in the orchestra, he’s finally faced with some difficult financial choices.
Dany Boon is known for his satiric movies and for playing every.single.string (pun unintended) of our human emotions. This movie no exception. Dany Boon is a master at manipulating our emotions. One moment you’ll be laughing out loud about the main character, the next you’ll be cringing underneath your seat out of embarrassment for him, you’ll judge him and then you’ll feel sorry for him, and finally you might even shed a tear. A must-watch.
4. Une Heure de Tranquillité (2014)
English Title: Do Not Disturb
Genre: Dramedy
IMDb: 5.7 / 10
This movie, like the movie Knock, is based on a theater play. It’s the story of a man who discovers an album of one of his favorite musicians and looks forward to having one hour of peace to listen to it. That’s without counting all the people in his life.
5. Eyjafjallajökull (2013)
English Title: Eyjafjallajökull
Genre: Comedy
IMDb: 5.6 / 10
Another Dany Boon movie that will have you laughing out loud, cringing, glued to your seat in suspense, grossed out and “face palming”. Seriously, you’ll never guess the next crazy turn of that adventure. You’re in for a wild ride. Literally. As this is the story of a divorced couple who meet on the road on their way to their daughter’s wedding. That was without counting in the volcano eruption of June 2010 that disrupted flights all over Europe. Or the hatred both have for each other.
6. Raid Dingue (2016)
English Title: R.A.I.D. Special Unit
Genre: Action, Comedy, Romance
IMDb: 5.5 / 10
Johanna Pasquali, a very clumsy police officer, dreams of joining the RAID – France’s special unit. In order to disillusion his daughter about that dream, her father, who is also the Interior Minister, pulls some strings to get his daughter accepted in the special unit, with the condition that his involvement remains a secret. As an intern, she’s placed under the responsibility and care of Eugène Froissard who tries to do all he can to throw her out again.
Note: In French, “raide dingue” means to be full on crazy about something.
7. À Bras Ouverts (2017)
English Title: With Open Arms
Genre: Comedy
IMDb: 5.4 / 10
A professor and writer is challenged on national TV when he’s asked whether he would welcome poor people in his home if they asked for shelter. Meanwhile, a Roma family is witnessing the professor’s resounding “yes” and promptly decides to take him up on his offer.
In order to avoid a public scandal and to prove he is true to his word, the professor takes in the Roma family. A rich-meets-poor and France-meets-Romani-culture movie.
8. Astérix & Obélix Series
Not quite sure if this will appeal to you, but because the Astérix & Obélix series were such a huge hit in France whenever they were released, I decided to include them in this post. I personally only enjoyed “Mission Cléopâtre” and “Au Service de Sa Majesté”.
One of the reasons these movies were a great hit, was because of the cast. Many notable French actors were included in the projects, including Alain Delon and Gérard Depardieu.
“Mission Cléopâtre” is probably the hardest to understand for non-native speakers because there are so many cultural and artistic references included. Which is why it became such a blockbuster in France.
“Au Service de Sa Majesté” is probably easiest to understand for English speakers because the British characters speak French with an English accent. It’s also the only one available on Netflix at the moment.
1st Movie: Astérix & Obélix contre César (1999)
English Title: Asterix & Obelix vs Cesar
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
IMDb: 6.0 / 10
2nd Movie: Astérix & Obélix: Mission Cléopâtre (2002)
English Title: Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
IMDb: 6.6 / 10
3rd Movie: Astérix aux Jeux Olympiques (2008)
English Title: Asterix at the Olympic Games
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
IMDb: 5.2 / 10
4th Movie: Astérix & Obélix: Au Service de Sa Majesté (2012)
English Title: Asterix & Obelix: God Save Britannia
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family
IMDb: 5.3 / 10
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