Bienvenue Chez Les Ch'tis (Welcome to the Sticks) French with English Subtitles Region 1 DVD, USA/Canada Edition

I do not speak French but am becoming a fan of Dany Boon and have purchased more movies he has starred in and/or directed. This movie is hilarious and extremely well written with great acting. Even though I read the subtitles I had the volume turned up.The movie is about Philippe (Kad Merad) who is as a manager in a post office and his difficult wife pressures him constantly to get a transfer down south to the French Rivera which he tries but it is impossible for him as they give those positions to handicapped people. After unsuccessfully trying to get a transfer he pretends he is handicapped but is caught out. As punishment Philippe is transferred to Bergues, the very top of the north, for two years - to the "sticks". Everyone thinks the north is always extremely cold and raining, and the people are unsophisticated and speak their own language. He leaves his wife and son behind as he does not think they would survive living in the north after hearing all the stories and goes alone returning every second weekend.When Philippe drives to the north he is miserable believing all he has heard. Dany Boon plays Antoine, a postal delivery man, working under Philipe. The chemistry between them is fantastic along with the other actors and the humour is great. It just gets better and better from here. A real delightful film!!!

This is laugh out loud funny. Rented it then went ahead and bought it. Not just funny but warm hearted and lovely. Enjoyed all the characters and how they bonded with each other.I don't think you have to be from France to love this movie or to 'get' the funny stereotypes the southerners have against the northerners.Just a very delightful movie to watch with the family if they don't mind sub titles. Our favorite part was when the wife came and husband and friends tried to fool her.Buy it or at least rent it. I think you'll love it too!

This is a delightful movie from start to finish. My husband and I had seen it several years ago on an international flight. I couldn't remember the title, and contacted the airline to help with that. They didn't seem to know what they aired on their flights. This May we were in Paris and I asked a tour guide if she knew the plot and she said "oh yes, it is my favorite movie!" She wrote down the title and as soon as I got home I searched on Amazon and there it was. It is subtitled, easy to understand and enjoy.

Our experience with French films has been one of extremes. French sensibilities do not always align with American, with the result that we either love them or hate them. This mismatch sometimes extends to the decision making on what movies should be released here or not. This movie suffered from this miscalculation. It is our understanding that Bienvenue Chez Les Ch'tis was one of the biggest hits in recent years in France. Yet, the decision was made not to release this film in the U.S., not even on DVD. You will not find this movie on cable or on Netflix. What a shame! We had to track the film down on Amazon to buy a copy released in Quebec. Our copy is now making its way through friends and family for them to enjoy.Danny Boon has created a sweet, comic fish out of water story in which a post office manager is transferred, against his will, to the far north of France. This is the french version of the boonies, the Appalachians or the deep south. Much to his surprise he discovers that it is not what everyone assumes it to be. Yet to maintain his credibility with his family and friends back home he must maintain the fiction of a man suffering when he visits them. There is much humor in both places and in watching him go to greater extremes to maintain the lie as the story progresses.The odds are the only way you will see this film is to buy the DVD. The cost is less than what you will waste taking someone to most movies. My advice is to spring for the film, make some popcorn and curl up with family or friends and enjoy.

This is a WONDERFUL movie! My wife and I just returned (Nov 2011) from a glorious trip to northern France and can attest that the warmth and big hearts of the people in Nord-Pas-de-Calais are every bit as real as shown in this charming movie! We are still longing for the carbonnade (stew) and maroilles (incredible stinky cheese)! Take a holiday from the stereotypical "French" culture and embrace honest down-to-earth friendship and values of French Flanders. The worst news we heard was that this movie may be re-made with an Italian setting. NO!!! It belongs there in Nord!

A great comedy, truly funny because of great actors. It also makes francophiles understand why it is not always easy to get what all French people are saying if they come from an area where the dialect is different from the one taught in the Parisian area.Some people from Canada speak French with such twist. It makes us revisit History and learn about people's origins before their countries became unified like in France which is so culturally rich because of the diversity of its multiple regions. This movie got lots of awards and caused renewed appreciation for the Northern part of France in need of touristic help. The humor is truly universal in this movie and the whole family will have a great time watching it!

I watched this on a plane flying to France. I had to watch my laughing so as not to disturb fellow passengers. But it was great. So I bought it upon my return.Unfortunately, it does have a lot of swearing, which wasn't evident on the plane. If you don't mind a lot of swearing including the F-word, then get it. If that bothers you, take a pass. Had I known that, I would have.Other than that, it is hilarious. I lived in the Nord de la France, so it brought back memories as it describes life there.