I have seen a lot of American movies in my life and there is one thing that is always the same: French people are idiots! It seems like Hollywood has no knowledge of France or French culture.
Any depiction of French people is based on stereotypes that are more or less accurate--like most of stereotypes. So, according to movies, we either are slow, pretentious, talk with an insanely strong accent, or all of this combined. Oh, and we also can't learn English! Take the character in the Pink Panther for example:
I have to admit that Steve Martin is really good at playing a dumb French. His accent is almost perfect. But come on, he makes French people look, and sound, like idiots! This might be funny for people who have no contact with French people, but as soon as you know how a real French person speaks English, the comic relief of this scene is gone.
French people are also depicted as pretentious. We seem to be better than anyone else, know everything and dress better...(Well, we sure dress better, Paris is the fashion capital of the world!) The best example of that is Jean Girard in Ricky Bobby. The character played by Sacha Baron Cohen is pretentious, talks weirdly, likes crepes and is homosexual. The only thing missing is the beret and the French bread and you get the most stereotypical French character of all time! (Except that he knows how to drive and fight.)
Once again, great acting! I do love this scene despite its strong racist background. They even call him Pepe le Pew! But they talk about crepes for a whole minute, so I guess it's OK. This is probably the first time in movie history that crepes gets so much attention.
I can't wait to see an American movie where the main character is French and a badass. Maybe the Rock could play it! I mean, Americans do love French culture. You do listen to our music (Phoenix, Daft Punk, M83) and watch great movies directed or produced by French people (The fifth Element, Taken, Amelie, or The Transporter).
So, next time you see a French character in a movie, you can laugh but keep in mind that most of its characteristics are highly stereotypical.
