Matrimonio con sorpresa

A light-hearted commedy that plays a lot with stereotypes.

The movie takes a lot of time to come to the point. Especially the introduction drags on for quite some time. The audience probably knows a couple of minutes in advance what's going to happen. The three couples and their relationships towards each other are interesting, but especially the young couple has no real connection and no chemistry. They are just there and are not given much space to act.

I had a few real laughs, especially when it came to the French/German/English jokes, but then again it was all too stereotyped-up. I'd wished for some more originality.

Maybe a fitting movie for a boring Sunday evening, not so much as a cinematic experience. It's just too shallow for that.

Spoiler Free Review

The plot revolves around the theme of ethnic heritage and belonging. Although I like the idea of the plot, it could use a more streamlined and meaningful storyline. The film navigates through varying tones - casual, formal, comedic, overly silly, and exaggerated - creating a mixed bag of emotions.

The cinematography and editing, though basic, effectively capture the essence of each moment, balancing clarity with depth. However, I have mixed feelings about the editing. The editing sometimes appears rushed, disrupting the flow with abrupt transitions.

The first act is focused on character introductions, their backgrounds and personalities, yet feels somewhat tedious despite its insightful moments. The narrative pace is decent but lacks enough engagement to keep the interest piqued.

In contrast, the second act introduces a flavorful mix of internal and external drama, injecting curiosity and humor into the storyline. The exploration of characters' concerns over their ethnic heritage unfolds with visual flair and comedic timing, showcasing a range of emotions. Some show ego, worry, relief, and pleasure.

The cast's performances range from average to commendable, with certain scenes showcasing their skills as actors.

Conclusion:

Cocorico is a mixed bag. It's marred by pacing issues and an inconsistent tone that may alienate some viewers. Despite its flaws, the film conveys a meaningful message: the significance of growing up in a culture that shapes one's identity, overshadowing the boundaries of ethnic heritage. My final rating stands at 5/10, reflecting a cinematic experience and overall enjoyment. It shines in the idea of the story but falters in execution.

The concept of the movie seemed interesting. Rich people from well-known families discovering that their roots may be more humble than they think, or the opposite, seemed an interesting concept to explore. However, the movie just isn't funny at all. I am not offended by the stereotypical jokes, but they need to be funny and original.

The narrative is boring and the pacing is very slow, especially the first act. The movie spends a lot of time introducing the parents and it becomes boring. It would be funnier if they spent more time analyzing their ancestors history, how the characters' lives are affected by this new information. Instead, they prefer running old, unoriginal jokes -- Germans are Nazis, Portuguese are maids and plumbers, and so on. Those jokes could have been funny, but the script is just bad.

Finally, the direction and cinematography of the movie are plain boring. The movie doesn't have descriptive scenes to break the cadence of the narrative, so the movie feels like a continuous sequence of dialogs, with no time for the viewers to reflect on what they are watching. The actors are also below par, although I like Christian Clavier, but I admit the script doesn't help them.

The film is hilarious! It is really finely done. You do need a french sense of humor as there are some inside jokes, but it is greatly done. Especially the way of how simply they slip in jokes like that!

Sometimes there may not be a very good flow in the film but the storyline is really interesting - it is so fun to see how every bit of information reunites at a later point in the movie and it all makes sense.

So I definitely recommend this movie for its humor. I did need to watch it at least two times to really catch jokes, but this is this kind of movie that with every time you watch it once more you find new jokes and funny moments.

Found the play to unfair stereotypes deeply patronising and ultimately embarrassing.

This movie's plot follows on this premise that certain nationalities are better than others and then tries to "make peace" with the message the offended nationalities do have redeeming qualities i.e. Hey you're stupid but you make good plumbers. The subtext being "you're still stupid though". Deeply offensive and embarrassing most of all to the intelligent French viewer.

Making fun of hard working people who make one's society and economy work is neither fair nor logical. I would skip this entirely but if for some reason you're forced to watch it, best to turn off your brain beforehand.