PREVIEW: Petit Nicolas (PG)

Eight-year-old Nicolas' life is turned upside down when his friend Joachim doesn't return to school after the birth of a little brother. Convinced Joachim's parents have abandoned him in the woods to devote themselves to their new offspring and certain his parents are plotting the same, Nicolas forms a plan to kidnap his sibling immediately after the birth, with the help of his friends, Alceste the glutton, Geoffroy the rich kid, Clotaire the dunce, Eudes the tough kid and Rufus, who wants to become a police officer. A charming comedy, obviously inspired by the work of Jacques Tati, it remains true to the spirit of the 1950s cult French comic series it was adapted from.

Petit Nicolas was first released in France back in 2009 and personally we think the wait to have it released in the UK is worth it.  Nicolas is a classic French children's character, created by the Asterix writer René Goscinny, and is being brought to you from the director of Molière (an exceptionally likable period comedy).

Tirard is currently working on the latest Asterix adventure and was the writer of rom-com I Do, starring Charlotte Gainsbourg and Alain Chabat.  Chabat actually contributed to this script. Much care has gone into this delicate creation, from the lovely title sequence inspired by Sempé’s original drawings, through to the sprightly soundtrack generated by Klaus Badelt.

*A fun, sweet family film.* Empire

*It’s a retro-revelling comedy in the Just William mould, getting its biggest laughs from a plot hatched by Nicolas (Maxime Godart) and his school chums to have gangsters kidnap the baby brother he suspects is forthcoming.*Total Film

*If Wes Anderson made French kids’ films, they would presumably look something like this* Time Out

Watch the trailer below: 

Petit Nicolas is screening on: Friday 31st Aug at 7.45pm, Saturday 1st Sept at 10.45am and Monday 3rd Sept at 2pm & 7.45pm.