Director Philippe Lacheau was already famous by his comedies, including the smash-hits "Alibi.com" and "Babysitting", when he decided to adapt the cult anime "City Hunter" - known in France as "Nicky Larson". The result was a film with an interesting premise, that partly failed to capitalize on it.
The story follows the eponymous hero (played by the director himself), a private detective- bodyguard- cleaner (!) who is hired in order to protect a perfume that causes whoever smells it to fall in love with the person wearing it. He is assisted by his sidekick, Laura, who, despite being loyal and kind to him, can't stand his constant interest for every attractive woman he meets on the way. These two, along with Pancho, a simple-minded, innocent man who fell in love with Laura as an effect of the perfume, try to recover the substance from a bystander, Skippy.
What Lacheau tried to do here is capitalize on the nostalgia felt by many in France for the years of the "Club Dorothée". This was a legendary children's show comprised of sketches, songs, and animated TV series, all presented by the famous singer/actress Dorothée and her team. She is very popular in France for having impacted a whole generation with "Club Dorothée" and another show before it, "Récré A2". Both of them had great significance for the generation growing up in the 80's. For, it was in these shows that anime were first introduced in France. Unfortunately, the adults didn't take this very well, and many episodes of such famous series as "Dragon Ball" or in this case, "Nicky Larson" were censored and cut in order for the violent moments to disappear. Still, "Club Dorothée" is still synonymous with quality children's entertainment in France, and so a product relating to it would surely meet an enthusiastic response from the audience, this film being no exception.
As a result of that, not only is Lacheau's character the familiar to many brave, yet easily seduced hero, but there are other characteristics, too that feed on this feeling of nostalgia. Dorothée herself appears in the film playing an assistant at the airport, and the film's soundtrack is mostly comprised of 80's songs, further intensifying this desire to return to the past.
In 2006, the third installment of the legendary "Les bronzés" series hit the screens of France. Ten million spectators flocked to see it, only to discover that it was a disappointment, having none of the subversiveness of the first two films. "Nicky Larson et le parfum de Cupidon" is a similar case; for all the cast's effort, the original feeling of the 80's can't be replaced, and this attempt at modernizing a cult series doesn't succeed because it lacks the only thing that saved this series from failing; nostalgia. In its censored version, "Nicky Larson" had already lost much of its appeal, becoming a mere children's show, but its connection with the "Club Dorothée" gave it an irresistible charm. The film, while superficially relating to it, feels more of an attempt to bring Larson's adventures into the real world, something that might have been possible for the show's original noir version, but doesn't have the desirable result as a comedy. The whole movie feels cheap, like so many other French comedies, with or without Dorothée.
For all its faults, though, the film has some postive elements; all the actors give spirited performances, showing their passion for this work (why such passion would exist is sort of a mystery to me), and the aforementioned soundtrack is excellent, even having the original French credits of the series in it. Most importantly, I can see the love for the anime responsible for this movie's creation in it. Yes, it is extravagant, sometimes ridiculous, but I prefer a genuine act of love towards one's childhood than a feature only made for profit. Nicky Larson had good intentions, he just lost his way in the meantime and the only person able to help him was still at the airport, counting the tickets.
The story follows the eponymous hero (played by the director himself), a private detective- bodyguard- cleaner (!) who is hired in order to protect a perfume that causes whoever smells it to fall in love with the person wearing it. He is assisted by his sidekick, Laura, who, despite being loyal and kind to him, can't stand his constant interest for every attractive woman he meets on the way. These two, along with Pancho, a simple-minded, innocent man who fell in love with Laura as an effect of the perfume, try to recover the substance from a bystander, Skippy.
What Lacheau tried to do here is capitalize on the nostalgia felt by many in France for the years of the "Club Dorothée". This was a legendary children's show comprised of sketches, songs, and animated TV series, all presented by the famous singer/actress Dorothée and her team. She is very popular in France for having impacted a whole generation with "Club Dorothée" and another show before it, "Récré A2". Both of them had great significance for the generation growing up in the 80's. For, it was in these shows that anime were first introduced in France. Unfortunately, the adults didn't take this very well, and many episodes of such famous series as "Dragon Ball" or in this case, "Nicky Larson" were censored and cut in order for the violent moments to disappear. Still, "Club Dorothée" is still synonymous with quality children's entertainment in France, and so a product relating to it would surely meet an enthusiastic response from the audience, this film being no exception.
As a result of that, not only is Lacheau's character the familiar to many brave, yet easily seduced hero, but there are other characteristics, too that feed on this feeling of nostalgia. Dorothée herself appears in the film playing an assistant at the airport, and the film's soundtrack is mostly comprised of 80's songs, further intensifying this desire to return to the past.
In 2006, the third installment of the legendary "Les bronzés" series hit the screens of France. Ten million spectators flocked to see it, only to discover that it was a disappointment, having none of the subversiveness of the first two films. "Nicky Larson et le parfum de Cupidon" is a similar case; for all the cast's effort, the original feeling of the 80's can't be replaced, and this attempt at modernizing a cult series doesn't succeed because it lacks the only thing that saved this series from failing; nostalgia. In its censored version, "Nicky Larson" had already lost much of its appeal, becoming a mere children's show, but its connection with the "Club Dorothée" gave it an irresistible charm. The film, while superficially relating to it, feels more of an attempt to bring Larson's adventures into the real world, something that might have been possible for the show's original noir version, but doesn't have the desirable result as a comedy. The whole movie feels cheap, like so many other French comedies, with or without Dorothée.
For all its faults, though, the film has some postive elements; all the actors give spirited performances, showing their passion for this work (why such passion would exist is sort of a mystery to me), and the aforementioned soundtrack is excellent, even having the original French credits of the series in it. Most importantly, I can see the love for the anime responsible for this movie's creation in it. Yes, it is extravagant, sometimes ridiculous, but I prefer a genuine act of love towards one's childhood than a feature only made for profit. Nicky Larson had good intentions, he just lost his way in the meantime and the only person able to help him was still at the airport, counting the tickets.