1958--Rose is a terrible secretary but a demon typist. Her handsome boss resolves to turn her into the fastest girl in the world.
A nouvelle vague in romcom.
Between amusingly ludicrous training montages and the sharply edited competition scenes, it’s easy to forget how rote the rest of the film is. Alas, Populaire ultimately feels too desperate to be a crowd pleaser to really satisfy as one.
Offers plenty of easy nostalgia and Duris charm.
Populaire is entirely predictable but it is also immensely charming, beautifully crafted and is a complete winner.
Populaire is a safer and cuddlier beast than one might have wished.
Ultimately, is isn't clear why the story is worth telling, and that's not something anyone ever said about Mad Men or The Artist.
I didn’t ever feel like there was much at stake in Populaire, perhaps because there wasn’t. But it’s a sweet little film – a trifle with extra custard – and whenever Rose beams in triumph, you can’t help but beam right back.
You'll need to have a very sweet tooth for this, and it makes light of those difficult sexual politics that Mad Men attacked with such fierce satire.
Lighthearted it is for the most part and slight. But it's also thoughtful, amusing and touching.
General release. Check local listings for show times.