Un mauvais garçon: A French comedy that mostly charms

Is this worth your time?

If you like vintage French cinema that doesn't try to solve the world's problems, sure. It’s perfect for a rainy afternoon when you just want something light and slightly cynical about love.

However, if you get annoyed by plots that rely entirely on 1930s-style "deal-making" between fathers and daughters, you might want to skip it. The premise feels like a relic, though a pretty charming one.

Danielle Darrieux is just magnetic here. She brings this sharp, energetic vibe to Jacqueline that makes the whole thing hold together, even when the script gets a bit repetitive.

She plays the "lawyer in training" with such confidence that you almost forget how ridiculous the bet with her father actually is. Who actually agrees to marry a stranger over a career deadline? Whatever, it works in the context of the film.

The courtroom scenes are... well, they aren't exactly grounded in reality. They feel more like a stage play than a legal drama, which is totally fine. There’s this one moment where she defends Pierre Besnard, the "bad boy" of the title, and the camera just stays on her face while she’s talking. It’s a bit long, but you can see her character genuinely starting to lose her cool, which is a nice little touch.

Speaking of Pierre, he’s exactly the kind of rogue you expect. He’s charming, he’s trouble, and he looks great in a suit. The chemistry between them is snappy. It doesn't have the weight of something like The Mark of Zorro, obviously, but it’s got a rhythm that feels very human and messy.

I found myself zoning out a bit during the scenes with the father, Monsieur Serval. He’s a bit of a cartoon character. But then the movie shifts back to the streets of Paris and the energy picks right back up.

Some random notes from my notepad:

• The dialogue is fast. Like, blink-and-you-miss-it fast.
• The lighting in the office scenes is weirdly dramatic for a rom-com.
• I’m still not sure why they thought the "marry the rich guy" plot was necessary, but it gives the movie a ticking clock, I guess.
• The supporting cast feels like they wandered in from three different movies, but they are all having a great time.

Is it a masterpiece? No. But it’s got a personality that’s hard to hate. It reminds me a little bit of the breezy, slightly off-kilter vibe in Si tu vois mon oncle. Not the same, but it lives in the same neighborhood.

If you watch it, pay attention to the way the camera tracks Darrieux. It’s like the movie knows she’s the only one really driving the bus. Everything else is just set dressing. 🎬