In 鈥淔rench Girl,鈥� a new romantic comedy from Canadian writer-directors James A. Woods and Nicolas Wright, Quebec City is as much of a character as the film鈥檚 lead roles.聽
It was the 鈥減erfect setting,鈥� said star Evelyne Brochu, a French Canadian actress known for her work on the sci-fi TV series 鈥淥rphan Black.鈥�
鈥淚t's romantic. It has a bit of a taste of Europe,鈥� she said in a virtual interview. 鈥淚 feel like in rom-coms, cities are often a character, if you think about Seattle, if you could think of it like New York, Paris 鈥� It's the city where you want to walk hand-in-hand with someone.鈥澛�
The movie follows Gordon, played by Zach Braff, a hopeless New York City romantic whose plan to propose to his girlfriend Sophie, portrayed by Brochu, is thrown into chaos. A job offer at the Fairmont Le Ch芒teau Frontenac from sophisticated celebrity chef Ruby 鈥� played by Vanessa Hudgens 鈥� who also happens to be Sophie鈥檚 ex, lures her back to her hometown of Quebec City.
Determined to keep their love alive, Gordon follows his girlfriend, only to find himself hilariously out of his depth in attempting to charm her hard-to-impress, French-speaking family.
Brochu, who is from Quebec City, said she signed on to do the film because it鈥檚 a 鈥渓ove letter to French Canadian women, French Canadian families,鈥� and the city itself.聽
She felt a real connection to her character, especially since she鈥檚 a francophone who is dating an anglophone from Montreal. She said the filmmakers captured a world she knew well.聽
For Braff, it was the elements of comedy that drew him in, but also his love of Quebec cities.聽
鈥淢y reps had said that it's kind of in the tone of 鈥楳eet the Parents,鈥� which is a movie I love, but with a twist and also it鈥檚 taking place in French Canada, which was interesting to me because I love Montreal,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd I just laughed through the whole thing. I was like, 鈥楽ign me up. I'm in.鈥欌�澛�
Braff, who starred in the TV comedy 鈥淪crubs,鈥� said this latest project was in his wheelhouse.聽
鈥淚 just love comedies like this. They don't make a lot of movies like this anymore.鈥�
The movie was mostly filmed in Montreal and Quebec City, and the cast said the atmosphere added to the filming experience.聽
Braff noted that the cast stayed in the Ch芒teau Frontenac in Quebec City while filming their scenes there. He also billed Montreal鈥檚 Old Town as 鈥渙ne of the prettiest places in North America.鈥�
"High School Musical" franchise star Vanessa Hudgens, who had previously filmed in Montreal about 12 years ago, was equally charmed. 聽
鈥淚t really is such a magical place, truly unlike anywhere else,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here's just like an old world air about it that just feels really magical.鈥�
Hudgens, who has starred in several rom-coms, including 鈥淭he Princess Switch,鈥� said she loved returning to the genre, but added that it afforded her a chance to put on a different hat 鈥� and play the villain.
鈥淭his is one where the women are really empowered, which is always just lovely to be able to see and to tell that story.鈥�
鈥淔rench Girl鈥� hits theatres on Friday.
鈥� Marriska Fernandes is a Toronto-based entertainment journalist, host and film critic.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 14, 2024.
Marriska Fernandes, The Canadian Press
