(rated PG-13, 92 mins.)
Starla Grady (Jane McGregor) has everything a teenage girl in small town Texas could ask for. Homecoming queen, head cheerleader, boyfriend who is class President and star quarterback, and a mom who sips Margaritas while shopping at Neiman Marcus. The only thing missing is her dream to join the ranks of famous Texans from Mary Kay to George Bush. When a beauty pageant plan backfires, the Grady family inherits a French foreign exchange student, the seemingly mousy and shy Genevieve (Piper Perabo). Before long, however, calculating and ruthless become Genevieve’s middle names. The movie feels like the Griswald family in those Chevy Chase classic “Vacation” sequels meets a softer Nicole Kidman in “To Die For”. Yet, despite the dual leads’ enthusiasm for staying in character, somehow the story loses steam. About midway you’re saying “Au revoir” while wristwatch checking. An encouraging supporting cast with younger brother Randolph (Jesse James) the only ‘normal’ person in the family and on/off love interest Ed Mitchell (Trent Ford) the school photographer. In the end, something seems “je ne sais pas? (I don’t know what)?” That’s when “Slap Her, She’s French” deserves un grand kick in le derriere.
