Hollywoo

A Studiocanal discharge of a LGM Cinema, Studiocanal, TF1 Films Push., Lorette Prods., Comme Une Grande Push., in colaboration with Nexus Factory, Ufilm, using the participation of Canal Plus. (Worldwide sales: Studiocanal, Paris.) Created by Cyril Cobeau-Justin, Jean-Baptiste Dupont. Co-producers, Sylvain Goldberg, Serge p Poucques, Adrian Politowski, Gilles Waterkeyn. Directed by Frederic Berthe, Pascal Serieis. Script, Xavier Maingon, Florence Foresti, Pascal Serieis, according to a concept by Maingon.With: Florence Foresti, Jamel Debbouze, Nikki Deloach, Muriel Robin, Sophie Mounicot, Shaun Roop, Kirk B.R. Woller, John G. Connolly, John Fitzpatrick. (French, British dialogue)A Gallic voice actress travels to Tinseltown once the U.S. star she dubs suddenly ankles a well known TV series in "Hollywoo," helmers Frederic Berthe and Pascal Serieis' clever and sunny laffer. Customized towards the talents of standup comics and periodic thesps Florence Foresti and Jamel Debbouze, this French seafood-out-of-water comedy consists of enough hilarity to counterbalance the periodic misstep plus some longueurs within the closing reels. Though phenom "Untouchable" still lives as much as its title in the local B.O., this virtually untranslatable title should attract Francophone auds. Using the dubbing of non-kiddie fare a rarity Stateside as well as in a number of other areas, the pic has better commercial (and remake) potential in nations in which the practice is much more common. Jeanne (Foresti) may be the French voice of Jennifer Marshall (Nikki Deloach), the Jennifer Aniston-like lead of worldwide rankings smash "L.A. Couples." Unlike her Yank counterpart, Jeanne is neither glamorous nor particularly friendly in the first scene, it's obvious this shrill unknown has more star hubris compared to famous actress she dubs as a living. Jeanne's world falls apart, drama full-style, when Jennifer suddenly quits as she's going to start filming the show's third season, which Jeanne's hilariously blase agent (Muriel Robin) got her a substantial raise. After talking to together with her sister (Sophie Mounicot, within an underwritten part), Jeanne leaves for California on the fool's errand: Make Jennifer change her mind. In L.A., where she's a genuine nobody (instead of a nobody to everybody but French TV audiences with great ears), Jeanne has trouble getting in contact with Marshall. Things start looking up when she bumps into Farres (Debbouze), a contented-go-lucky Frenchie who attempts to help her wiggle her way to the Vital backlot and into Hollywood parties and mansions. The mismatched duo of nonentities is perfectly performed by Debbouze and Foresti, as well as for each concept that falls flat -- for example Jeanne's creepy L.A. hotel -- you will find a minimum of a few that'll make auds grin and from time to time guffaw. Most importantly, Foresti indicates some humanity within an basically unlikable role, and it is assisted by an unpredicted hint of romance between her character and Debbouze's (also known Stateside for his serious roles in Rachid Bouchareb's work). As scripted by Serieis, Foresti and Xavier Maingon, with Debbouze credited like a further contributor (without doubt for his semi-improvised and frequently very funny Franglais), "Hollywoo" keeps the laffs coming fast. Additionally, it lightly pokes fun in the impossible cliches of yankee TV and also the perceived Hollywood lifestyle while making certain the leads and also the narrative itself remain sufficiently in awe of same, such as with the seaside save in Malibu that has Jennifer and her aficionado French-Canadian ex-b.f. (Shaun Roop). However, developments within the final reels -- having a vehicle chase, flying bullets, the Hollywood sign without the "d" (hence the title) and incarceration -- stretch auds' suspension of disbelief and also the running time, although the cast's credits-montage singalong to Musical Youth's "Pass the Dutchie" is really a doozy. Vibrant lensing had some minor color and concentrate issues in the screening caught, though mostly the tech package is really as vibrant and reliable because the California sun.Camera (color, widescreen), Ludovic Colbeau-Justin editor, Elodie Codaccioni music, Philippe Rombi production designer, Franck Benezech costume designer, Aurore Pierre seem (Dolby Digital/DTS), Francois Maurel, Alain Task, Thomas Gauder line producers, David Giordano, Patrick Batteux assistant director, Francois Ryckelynck. Examined at Gaumont Opera (Cote Capucines), Paris, 12 ,. 8, 2011. Running time: 106 MIN. Contact Boyd van Hoeij at news@variety.com