Welcome to The Chicago Cubs

This French comedy is just wonderfully low-key and absolutely hilarious. It’s all about regular people dealing with everyday situations—it feels so incredibly real. I don't want to say too much and spoil the best jokes, so... just go watch it. You'll be laughing the entire time.

So, I caught this movie trailer the other day, and honestly? It actually looked pretty interesting...

Jessica Jones23 said:I saw an ad for this movie the other day and it actually looks pretty interesting...

I caught it recently. It’s not bad, I guess, but it's not really a theater movie for me. The whole thing relies heavily on the regional slang and dialect differences between the North and South of France, which is basically just that classic North vs. South vibe. I doubt that would even translate well into American English. To me, it feels more like a Sunday afternoon movie you watch on TV rather than something for the big screen. Plus, people who actually speak French are probably going to get way more out of it. Just like with English, some things just don't translate, I suppose...😁

It’s not just about the dialogue; it’s the fantastic, subtle acting and those everyday, hilarious scenarios—like the bit with the wheelchair, the bicycle scenes, or the one where she gets pulled over on the highway—that make it so relatable. I truly think this is a movie meant for the big screen; I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. Sometimes I find myself daydreaming about the typical tropes you see in comedies—you know, the usual Jim Carrey slapstick or that classic American prom king & queen look. This film stands out because it features realistic people and genuine situations, which is why I love it so much. There's no forced laughter here.

I understand French, but definitely not well enough to catch all the little linguistic jokes without subtitles.

quietseal15 said:I watched this movie recently—it’s decent enough, but I wouldn't bother seeing it in a theater. The whole hook is basically the dialect gap between people in the South versus the North of France—that whole North vs. South dynamic again—so I doubt it translates well to our language. It feels more like a Sunday afternoon TV movie than a cinematic experience... plus, anyone actually speaking French is going to get way more out of it because, just like with English, some things just don't translate...😁

I'm with you on that.
My husband is actually from that region, so I caught all the nuances and subtext, especially since I live in France myself.
In my opinion, this comedy is way too specific to one local area to really hit its stride in a different market.

For comparison—show "Saturday Night Live" to some foreigner, especially if they don't speak English fluently and have to rely on subtitles. They'll probably laugh at the slapstick bits, but all the subtle wit will fly right over their heads.

Look, it's watchable, but it's definitely not meant for us.

By the way, what's the actual American title?

To’s just another one of those cliché movies that somehow manages to pull a massive audience in France. Honestly, how many times have you sat through a film where some guy heads out to some backwater town, full of prejudices about the locals being unrefined or stuck in their ways, only to realize he was totally wrong? You know the drill—he discovers how beautiful everything is, how kind everyone is, blah, blah, blah... *yawn*. Since I don't find that kind of predictable nonsense in French comedies particularly entertaining, and I don't speak French well enough to catch any of the local wit anyway, the whole thing felt tedious and draining.
Now, don't get me wrong, some of my absolute favorites are actually from France—things like The Castle of My Mother / The Glory of My Meadow, Jean de Florette / Manon of the Springs, Three Colors, even Amélie or Betty Blue... but it’s been a long time since I’ve watched an American film—or anything else, really—that I truly enjoyed.

Chloe Hughes15 said:By the way, what’s the actual American title?

Yeah, that's the official American title.🙂
I actually caught this movie a few days ago, and I have to agree—the experience is night and day depending on whether you speak French or not. For me, the movie was just alright; there were a handful of scenes that were genuinely hilarious where the whole theater was cracking up, but for most of the runtime, it felt like only a few people were laughing—likely those French majors in the back who actually understood the dialogue, since the rest of us were pretty much lost.😁

Honestly, I think it’s fantastic. And look, I’m not some French language major or anything. I mean, how many times have I watched a movie where a guy moves to some tiny, judgmental backwater town? Maybe once. But that’s not really the point of this story; it’s all about the characters and the situations they find themselves in. It’s genuinely witty, and honestly, it’s one of those rare comedies that actually holds up and makes you laugh out loud.
In my opinion, most of those American "quasi-comedies" just pack the theaters by relying on cheap gags and endless clichés. It’s all just low-brow nonsense piled on top of more nonsense.

Melissa James70 said:Personally, I thought it was great. And look, I’m certainly no expert on French culture or anything. I can't tell you how many times I've sat through movies where some guy wanders into the middle of nowhere only to be met with a bunch of narrow-minded locals—once, maybe? But honestly, the whole point isn't really the plot; it's more about the characters and how they react to things. It’s genuinely witty, and one of those rare comedies that actually manages to be funny.
I mean, most of those mainstream American quasi-comedies pack the theaters just because they're "hilarious," but really, it's just gross-out humor and cliché piled on top of cliché.

I'm right there with you regarding American comedies; I'd much rather head to the theater for something British, French, or maybe a quirky indie flick from Europe. 🙂
The movie itself is clever, and there were definitely moments where I was practically crying from laughing so hard, though I felt like the script leaned a little too heavily on that "Chicago Cubs" accent joke, which—for someone who knows a tiny bit of the language—didn't land quite as well for me.

Melissa James70 said:Personally, I loved it. And look, I’m not some expert on French culture or anything. But how many times have I watched a movie where a guy moves to some tiny, judgmental backwater town? Once, maybe. But that’s not really the point of the story—it’s about the characters and the situations they find themselves in. It’s actually funny, which makes it one of those rare comedies that’s actually worth watching instead of just being mindless.
I mean, American slapstick comedies fill up theaters all the time because people think they're hilarious, when in reality, it's just gross-out humor and cliché after cliché.

Just once? Sounds like you aren't much of a cinephile then. The plot has been chewed over a million times already, and seeing talented actors making these "hilarious" stupid faces is just boring and uninspired. It’s a decent two out of ten for me.
And yeah, I'll give you that regarding the silly American comedies. Those mindless flicks pack the houses, kind of like how > had massive success in France. Honestly, a lot of recent European comedies coming out lately are giving those big American hits a run for their money in terms of actual "quality."

Look, I wouldn’t call myself a massive cinephile, so maybe I don't have the authority to weigh in here. >. I just said what I thought and don't see much point in overexplaining it, but if this movie is based on gross-out humor, then you clearly aren't exactly an expert on potty humor either. 😉

Not every single movie needs to be some high-brow cult classic or deep piece of art like the stuff mentioned in this thread's subtitle. It’s not going to win a Palme d'Or, a Golden Bear, or any other major award, but anyone who goes to see it just to have a good time will get a laugh out of it—unless, of course, they're too caught up in their own "art house" ideals.

Melissa James70 said:Look, not every single movie needs to be some deep, avant-garde masterpiece or a cult classic like what’s listed in this thread's description. Sure, it might not win a Palme d'Or at Cannes or grab a Golden Bear, but if you actually go in wanting to have a good time, you'll laugh—unless, of course, you're too wrapped up in your own high-brow "art house" ideals.

Alright, fair enough. Everyone's got different tastes.
But honestly? I spent more time laughing at your comments than I did watching the actual movie. I guess I really am just too weighed down by those "artistic ideals" you keep talking about, whatever that means.😁