This French comedy-drama is Zilberman’s belated sequel to his own 1998 film, Man Is Woman. Fortunately, however, no knowledge of the original is required – He’s My Girl stands as a self-contained narrative appreciable on its own terms. It follows Jewish musician Simon Eskenazy (Antoine de Caunes) as he struggles to deal with finishing his record, looking after his ailing mother, greeting his ex-wife and son who are visiting Paris, and juggling his lovers, Raphael and the cross-dressing Naim.
The most immediately striking thing about the film is its lead actor: Antoine de Caunes, best known for ex-Channel 4 late-night staple Eurotrash, who reprises his role as Eskenazy in a surprisingly sober, downbeat performance. Remarkably, it doesn’t feel like a TV comic ‘trying something a bit different’; rather, it feels like this role is a niche that he has perfectly developed. Eskenazy is an admittedly strange creation as a central character, since he gives so little of himself away that we never really get to know him, but de Caunes’s deadpan facial expressions and general weariness brilliantly fit the film’s low-key style.
Tonally, He’s My Girl feels something like a less zany, less ambitious Almadovar, and at times recalls elements of Curb Your Enthusiasm, with Eskenazy unable to control the interactions of those around him and often being misunderstood. It’s perhaps a little too subdued for some audiences, and never extraordinary, but He’s My Girl is certainly a film of considerable character. It has a uniquely quirky charm that deserves praise.
Overall Verdict: Unshowy, quietly funny, and a worthy alternative to the standard rom-com template.
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Trailer
Reviewer: Tom René