In 1995, Jean Dujardin organized his first shows around a character he knew when he was in high school entitled Brice. The latter took himself for someone witty, clever and whose formidable verbal words helped him to maintain respect around him. Dujardin kept him in memory to create an eternal teenager and a dreamy rich kid, fond of surfing who's waiting for his hour glory.

"Brice De Nice" was one of the most profitable movies in 2005 from a commercial perspective. Artistically, well it's another story. The main problem with James Huth's effort or rather Dujardin's (the director contents himself with shooting without the single directing idea and it's the star who holds the reins) is that it has strongly the look of a stretched sketch to make a one hour and a half film. It means that a few jibes can be funny for a short time and it's a mistake to believe they that can be the only reliable supplier of laughter for a thin story. Hello weariness! To flesh out (so to speak) the whole, comes a two-bit subplot in the second half between Clovis Cornillac and Elodie Bouchez and superfluous filler (the sequence in the bank turned into a pseudo musical. By the way, the song "C'est Le Casse De Brice" was bound to be a big hit in France). Even with the adoption of a deliberately schoolboy tone, the whole doesn't take off on the crest of the waves but sinks at the bottom of the sea.

To appreciate "Brice De Nice" is like to appreciate the hilarious sitcom: "Un Gars, Une Fille": in small doses. Besides, Alexandra Lamy has a cameo in Huth's effort. As for Dujardin, he has real actor skills and proved it with his aforementioned shows and the quoted sitcom but also in cinema with "OSS 117: Le Caire Nid D'Espions" (2006),he nearly grabbed the César for French Best Actor this year with this role. But, here, it's not a film he would put on top of his CV. Anyway, teenagers or little demanding viewers will love this one.

I was about to rate this movie 6 or possibly 7 but when I've seen all the bad reviews here, I decided to give it the original rating I gave to this movie when I first saw it a few years ago and that's an 8.

Many people (including french ones) are not aware that Brice was written first and foremost by Jean himself when he was an absolute unknown and playing in small french pubs and cafés during the 90s...

Typical French Slacker with some clear inspirations from some American "surfer" dudes and movies, Brice is more than a character, he is a style of life. A guy that lives, sleeps and breathes for "casser" people (aka shutting them down with his unique wit). Despite all the bad criticism from both french critics and the crowd, Brice was a well deserved success with more than four millions of viewers in theaters (for a country of 60 + millions of people).

Not bad for a "super dumb and unfunny" movie right ? One could argue many flicks like that are getting massive success in Worldwide and especially American theaters (Adam Sandler movies like Happy Gilmore with golf instead of surf come to mind) but looks like people enjoy some unoffensive fun so why not Brice ?

Dujardin (teaming with screenwriter Karine Angeli) did a wonderful job at adapting his character to the big screen. Helped by french director James Huth (who easily did his best work ever here, both visually and overall),Brice was brought to the big screen and managed to make me laugh AND entertain me for 90 straight minutes.

Something I thought impossible when you know that Brice original stuff were lasting 5 minutes at best EACH...

The movie is full of good ideas like pairing Brice with super versatile and underrated french actor Clovis Cornillac as Brice new found (randomly) buddy Marius (who keeps a very secret mystery that will make Brice agreeing to enter the world surfing contest later in the movie).

Outside of the sharp and funny dialogues, the two singing and dancing sequences were truly the massive good surprises of the flick.

Dujardin can not only act but also sing AND dance (as shown also one year later in Cairo Nest Of Spies) to brilliant level.

To cut it short, he is a complete entertainer like no one else in France right now when it comes to movies.

All in all this is a very refreshing and unique French-Sport flick that should appeal mostly to french AND fans of Jim Carrey-Adam Sandler and movies like Dumb And Dumber and such.

Vasty underrated and definitively worth a rental for people fans of either or both.

I had a great time watching this movie. Why? Simply because when I got out of the screening, I felt full of energy and i had a smile on my face. You can't say this from a lot of comedies, let alone movies of course.

There is no shame in making comedies. I don't understand why a movie should always be dramatic or convey a message. In a way, it has its own weird kind of humor just like the Monty Python had their own weird kind of humor. If you don't feel like watching this kind of movies, just don't go, you won't like it! If you're ready to experience a genuine weird French humor. Try it, you may love it!