La Fille de Monaco (The Girl from Monaco) poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Fabrice Luchini, Roschdy Zem, Louise Bourgoin, Stéphane Audran, Gilles Cohen ... see more see more... , Jeanne Balibar , Alexandre Steiger , Philippe Duclos , Helene De Saint Pere , Christophe Vandevelde , Pierre Bourgeon

A bodyguard hired to look after a lawyer ends up protecting the man from himself in this breezy comedy from France. Bertrand Beauvois (Fabrice Luchini) is a successful fiftysomething attorney who's hi... read more read more...red to represent Edith Lasalle (Stéphane Audran), who has been charged with killing a man with ties to the Russian mafia. Edith's adult son, Louis (Gilles Cohen), has been warned that Russian strong-arm men may try to silence his mother and her legal team, so he hires a private security team to protect them and Bertrand finds he's shadowed at all times by stone-faced Christophe Abadi (Roschdy Zem). Bertrand doesn't see the need for Christophe's presence, but when the lawyer has trouble brushing off a former girlfriend he'd rather not see, the bodyguard turns out to be a valuable ally. Bertrand and Christophe strike up a friendship, as the former is increasingly impressed with the latter's street smarts and good judgment, but when Audrey Varela (Louise Bourgoin), a gorgeous woman nearly half Bertrand's age, begins throwing herself at him, Christophe has a hard time convincing his client that something is clearly not right. La Fille de Monaco (aka The Girl From Monaco) received its North American premiere at the 2008 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

31% liked it

7,821 ratings

Critics

48% liked it

52 critics

R, 1 hr. 35 min.

Directed by: Anne Fontaine

Release Date: July 3, 2009

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: December 15, 2009

Stats: 240 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

Louise Bourgoin Louise Bourgoin Louise Bourgoin official poster
Upload a Photo | View All La Fille de Monaco (The Girl from Monaco) Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (240)

  • hunterjt13
    September 21, 2011
    hunterjt13
    A high-profile lawyer falls for a sprightly weather girl against the advice of his world-weary bodyguard.
    Essentially a dramedy about the perilous line between love and sexual obsession, this film is interesting when it's not trying to be funny and funny in all the right ways. P... read morerofessional critics have complained about the thriller element to this film, but though it eventually winds its way to a thriller-esque conclusion, by classifying it as a dramedy, a drama with comic elements, I found things to like. After all, the idea of a film with all the trappings of a romantic comedy but which takes its themes seriously and probably surprised even the filmmakers is refreshing in the genre.
    Louise Bourgoin as the mercurial sex kitten who seduces the main character is beautiful, and her acting talents make her character's weather-like changes believable. Fabrice Luchini is also quite good; I think my favorite moment is his nearly catatonic dive into the pool.
    Overall, I found the mixed elements of The Girl from Monaco satisfying and entertaining.
  • gator681
    July 19, 2009
    gator681
    In "The Girl from Monaco," Bertrand(Fabrice Luchini) is a top criminal lawyer in Monaco to defend Edith(Stephane Audran) on charges of killing her lover. He was hired by her son Louis(Gilles Cohen) in order to stop his mother from defending herself in court, having already dismi... read moressed several lawyers. Against the possibility of retaliation by the victim's family, he has also gone to the trouble of hiring Christophe(Roschdy Zem), a bodyguard, to protect Bertrand which he thinks is foolish. That is until Christophe helps in getting rid of Helene(Jeanne Balibar), a particularly troublesome lover. After that, the two men bond but Christophe can do nothing to protect Bertrand from the charms of Audrey(Louise Bourgoin), the local weather girl.

    "The Girl from Monaco" is a sexy legal drama about control. Both Bertrand and Christophe need it to be successful in their professions. Bertrand needs control over every word in the courtroom and when he seduces women. Christophe needs it over the environment to protect his clients and emotions. What they also have in common is a lack of serious involvement with women(nothing wrong with this, as long as nobody gets hurt) which is why they are so concerned about their lack of control over Audrey who is sex personified and a force of nature, if you will. She is not crazy, nor is Helene, just passionate.
  • mvieaddict
    September 20, 2010
    mvieaddict
    Le Fille de Monaco was a mix of romantic comedy together with drama. Unfortunately, the end result was bad and there was no way to connect with the characters. Fabrice Luchini played Bertrand. an elite lawyer coming to Monaco to work a high profile case. He was assigned a bodygua... read morerd, Christophe, with whom he developed a great friendship. Then appeared Audrey, a weather forecast girl, who was way younger than Bertrand and she turned his life upside down. Luchini and Zem had good chemistry on screen and the bound they formed was interesting but never fully realized.Then the movie suddenly made an unexpected twist, which was not bad but due to lack of character development, it was difficult to believe the turns of events experienced here.
  • TonyPolito
    August 15, 2010
    TonyPolito
    This film proves what Woody Allen said about sex can be true of French cinema: Even at its worst, it's still pretty much on-the-money.

    The film's a typically French triple-character study. And typically French romance pairs a middle-aged man with a 20-something dish; here it's ... read morea droll barrister (Lucchini) with a local weather-channel bunny and all-night party girl (Bourgoin). Since Bourgoin actually IS a French weather-channel bunny, you know this script was hashed-up on-the-fly - and that in itself isn't a good omen. The third wheel is Lucchini's wingman, a stoic up-from-the-streets bodyguard (Zem).

    Lucchini's in town to defend a murderous SugarMomma and, as the trial progresses, Bourgoin full-court-presses Lucchini for reasons unknown. Zem once 'knew' Bourgoin and warns Lucchini off, to no avail. As the trial drags on, so does the trio's ever deepening interaction.

    And so what was first promised as light-hearted RomCom fare (via opening credits gandering Monte Carlo nightlights while Nat King Cole's croonin' "L-O-V-E") slowly turns to more serious stuff. Unfortunately, the characters just don't engage viewers as French characterizations usually do. At fin, the viewer's choice is "are they crazy" or "who cares."

    Still, the film's stylings, conclusion and character studies are all just 'oh-so-French' that it still somewhat satisfies. Lucchini delivers neatly the poor cards he's dealt. Bourgoin is eye-candy enough, half-dressed in half-a-dozen killer outfits. Zem delivers stoic well since his acting seems to be in dry-dock.

    Loose-and-dead-ends abound in a script whipped-up so everyone gets paid to take Monaco sun. SugarMomma's trial is totally irrelevant and defense strategy incomprehensible. Zem appears clueless about bodyguarding. And there's rumblings about lurking Russian mobsters - and Zem 'wanting' Lucchini - that lead nowhere.

    RECOMMENDATION: French cinema buffs will find it a pleasant-enough 90 minutes, nothing more. Others should take a pass.

View All La Fille de Monaco (The Girl from Monaco) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jennie Punter
July 24, 2009
Jennie Punter, Globe and Mail

The Girl from Monaco is a tease. Full Review

J. R. Jones
July 24, 2009
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

An uncommonly shrewd and funny farce. Full Review

Bernard Besserglik
July 24, 2009
Bernard Besserglik, Hollywood Reporter

Luchini's trademark mannerisms, which in some films can be irritating, are here perfectly judged and appropriate. Zem confirms his growing stature as a boxoffice attraction, [and] Bourgoin does well t...

Derek Elley
July 24, 2009
Derek Elley, Variety

A generally entertaining piece of fluff that's kept afloat by a weathered cast including Fabrice Luchini and Roschdy Zem. Full Review

Bruce Demara
July 24, 2009
Bruce Demara, Toronto Star

As a solid thriller, La fille de Monaco feels like it's missed the mark. Full Review

Ben Mankiewicz
July 6, 2009
Ben Mankiewicz, At the Movies

It was a perfect blend of satire and tension. Full Review

Ben Lyons
July 6, 2009
Ben Lyons, At the Movies

The film dances around suspense and satire, but achieves little of both. Full Review

Joel Brown
July 3, 2009
Joel Brown, Boston Globe

The Girl From Monaco doesn't seem to know whether it wants to be a sprightly sex comedy or an enigmatic little thriller. Unfortunately, it's neither very funny nor very thrilling. Full Review

Michael Phillips
July 3, 2009
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

This is a modest but expertly performed piece. And this summer, surrounded by lesser, louder, bigger and dumber diversions, it's especially welcome. Full Review

V.A. Musetto
July 3, 2009
V.A. Musetto, New York Post

The Girl From Monaco may be momentarily entertaining, but don't expect anything profound from the lightweight saga as it wends its way to its contrived, TV-movie conclusion. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

This list looks lonely.
Add a suggestion!

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

La Fille de Monac... : Watch Free on TV

La Fille de Monaco (The Girl from Monaco) Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for La Fille de Monaco (The Girl from Monaco). Want to create one?

Video Clips

Upload a Video |

All La Fille de Monaco (The Girl from Monaco) Videos

Meet Other Fans

Add La Fille de Monaco (The Girl from Monaco) to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?