Slap Her

In movies (and television shows, for that matter), whenever foreigners visit small/low-population towns, where all the citizens’ personalities and mannerisms are identical, comedy will surly ensue. Filmmakers usually approach this sort of material the same way, which is to compare and contrast both parties’ lifestyles, but thankfully the screenplay for Slap Her…She’s French manages to send a few electric shocks to this All About Eve meets Heathers comedy. The humor may come from screenwriter Allan Ball, who gave the script an uncredited polish, which would explain the darkly comedic opening.

Arriving in the small-town of Spendona (in Texas) is Genevieve LePlouff (Piper Perabo), a French foreign exchange student sporting a beret and thick accent. Sponsored by Starla Grady (Jane McGregor) and her family, the French guest gets some exposure to Western culture; where everyone chomps on meat like it’s the most nutritious of foods. As Spendona’s most popular and ambitious resident, Starla introduces Genevieve to American high-school lifestyles, such as cheerleading and football. The Parisian girl is entranced, so much so that she plots on taking over Starla’s life by blackmailing her into becoming the school loser.

Similar to 1999’s teen-pageant satire Drop Dead Gorgeous, only much lighter, Slap Her does have its worthwhile moments. The result of a scene where Genevieve slips psychedelic mushrooms into her host’s blender is funny in that ‘first-trip’ sense. Starla experiences the hallucinations during school, with her face plastered in a jolly wide-mouthed smile. Director Melanie Mayron also stages a cartoonsh three-way catfight, where a double-backhand slap is delivered to two cheeks. But otherwise, the film isn’t big on physical gags.

New Jersey native Piper Perabo, who made quite an impression by shaking what her momma gave her in Coyote Ugly, fits right into this villainous role. Her characters’ conniving ways are a welcomed change for Perabo, who, when not playing alongside animated squirrels, was in the little seen lesbian romance-comedy Lost and Delirious. She’s probably the only known actor in the cast, which features a number of up and coming actors, including Jane McGregor (who resembles Julia Stiles.

Mayron, famous for her character in the TV show thirtysomething, came in to replace another director three weeks into shooting. Cleverly casting Michael McKean as a French teacher with a soft spot for teenage girls, she does the movie much good. And while it’s refreshing seeing a teen comedy not obsessed with bodily fluids, Slap Her…She’s French is so light and unmemorable that you’ll forget most of the jokes two hours later, even though they were funny upon viewing. -Shaun Sages

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