Ooh La La!
Last updated: 06/10/2006 - 10:19
Slap Her, She's French!
Starla Grady (Jane McGregor) has everything a teenage girl in small town Texas could ask for (if you leave aside her obnoxious little brother, Randolph).
The homecoming queen and head cheerleader of Splendona High School (inevitably dating the quarterback) plans her career in minute detail. Nothing can come between Starla and her dream of becoming the most popular anchorwoman of a TV news show.
Nothing and no-one that is, until a French exchange student threatens to upset the balance. Genevieve LePlouff (played by Piper Perabo) wins over the hearts of the Grady family, with her sad tales of misfortune in Paris. The girl soon proves to be – in contrast to her shy, innocent and slightly space-cadettish appearance - a sly and calculating ruthless adversary who stops short of nothing.
While the unsuspecting Starla tries to help ‘Mademoiselle Harmless’ integrate with her family and friends, the treacherous rival first lays claim to Starla’s boyfriend, then to her throne and finally even to her parents’ love. Although she has smelled a rat, Starla, our blue-eyed all-American girl is deceived by the saintly appearance of her guest until Starla ends up behind bars, double-crossed a la Genevieve.
Piper Perabo
In the clink, gripped with self-doubt and intimidated by her inmates mere glance, Starla slowly begins to recognise the true values of her life. Aided by her brother and her new-found friend Ed (Trent Ford), she determines to protect and defend these values. Revenge, after all, is sweet and the lesson Genevieve is about to learn is going to be very bitter ...
Slap Her, She's French! is a snappy satirical comedy full of provocative one-liners and subtle oddball humour about false friends, and the desire to be accepted that makes fun of the emptiness and delusions of the seemingly perfect life of a teenager.
Melanie Mayron (Girl Friends)directed this clever, emotional and dynamic film starring the popular MTV hostess Jane McGregor, and shooting star Piper Perabo, who following the success of Coyote Ugly and The Adventures Of Rocky & Bullwinkle , is held to be one of Hollywood's up-and-coming big stars.
Slap Her, She's French! is out on DVD now.