Nice Girls is an action-comedy film set to be released in 2024 and is directed by Noémie Saglio. This film showcases a hilarious buddy-cop adventure along the French Riveira. It features Alice Taglioni and Stéfi Celma as two drastically different police officers who are combined into one unit to solve a suspicious death that soon reveals a much larger conspiracy. Nice Girls is filled with physical comedy alongside bright slapstick cinematographic humor.
As a part of Netflix’s collection, this film embraces cliches for the purpose of incorporating a distinctly French twist. This film also features mellifluous visuals embellished with a political statement featuring women and a plot filled with digital espionage alongside local corruption intertwined with contrasting collaborations.
Plot Summary
The story follows Léo, a hot-tempered and disorderly police officer from nice. She is emotionally impacted by the sudden death of her brother Ludo, a fellow police officer who was found dead in suspicious circumstances in Hamburg. Léo believes that there is more to her brother’s death than what meets the eye. Unfortunately, her superiors prefer to sweep this under the rug to keep things scandal-free, and assign a partner to babysit her.
Introducing Mélanie, an ultra-disciplined detective from Hamburg brought in to ensure the case was handled with proper international cooperation. Léo and Mélanie clash from the very beginning over everything: methods, attitudes, work ethics, and coffee. Léo is overly emotional and rule-bending. On the other hand, Mélanie is logical and protocol-bound.
The two women continue to investigate what at first appears to be a disparate death. What initially looks like a random case quickly develops to uncover extensive layers of conspiracy spanning hacked data files, compromised local government, dark motives from corporations, and even an impending international eco-summit in Nice.
Bat, an ex-hacker with outlandish ideas and exaggerated romance keeps the group entertained and comedic relief. Serving as the team’s unofficial decree, Bat becomes crucial in the retrieval of intel, especially as threats pile on the trio from outside assassins, agent rivals, and their own police force hellbent on a closed case.
The investigation culminates at the eco-summit where Léo and Mélanie confront the remaining international players to finally reveal complex web of motives, secrecy, and disregard for Ludo’s life. They end up trusting each other as partners and allies.
Characters and Performances
Alice Taglioni as Léo: Taglioni’s performance as Léo is chaotic and charming. She is volatile, deeply emotional, and perpetually on the go. Her character provides most of the slapstick and improvisational comedy, sometimes through over-the-top movements, curse-filled rants, and erratic behavior. While she seems tough, she is a sister deeply bereaved and grieving, seeking justice.
Stéfi Celma as Mélanie: Stéfi Celma’s portrayal of Mélanie is calm and collected. She’s rigid and tidy, which sharply contrasts with Léo’s wildness. Gradually, over the course of the film, Mélanie does warm up a bit, showing some of her vulnerabilities alongside her fierce protective instincts toward the innocent.
Baptiste Lecaplain as Bat: As a cheeky former hacker, he brings charm, flirtation with both leads, humor during tense moments, and digital surveillance along with the tech “man in the van” role when needed.
Supporting Cast: Noémie Lvovsky portrays Chief Hernandez as the Chief of Police, a wonderfully silly, wacky commander who loves ludicrous red tape. There is also a rotating cast of antagonists and minor characters such as corrupt officials and inept henchmen that feature throughout the investigation.
Direction, Visual Style, and Tone
Noémie Saglio’s direction combines the warm lighting with a vibrant color palette for Nice Girls, and breezy pacing. The Mediterranean coast also contributes to the film’s visuals with the sunbaked beaches, rooftops of the casinos, as well as the charming alleys.
While the stakes do rise, the Nice Girls maintains a playful and lighthearted tone. Physical comedy such as slapstick falls, accidental punches, car chases gone wrong, and elaborate disguises are abundant. Moments of emotion—including Léo confronting her grief or the thriving bond between the two leads—are also balance with all the comedy.
The film’s comedic French pop, techno, and contemporary instrumental music that captures the humor of scenes also sets the upbeat tone.
Themes and Satire
Nice Girls satirizes diplomatic protocols, red tape, and gender norms all while turning the maistream conventions of a buddy cop film on its head.
- Mismatched Duo Trope
As audiences have come to expect from the buddy cop genre, a pair of complete opposites forms the foundation of this film. The transformation of Léo and Mélanie from reluctant coworkers to functioning partners serves as the film’s emotional journey.
- Feminine Resilience in Masculine Spaces
The title, Nice Girls, is an example of irony. Both protagonists of the story defy the social norms attached to ‘nice’ femininity. Léo is aggressive and loud while emoting her visceral feelings. Mélanie is cold, distant, and an intellectual shrew in her own right. The two of them humorously dismantle typical male-centered action dynamics.
- Political and Bureaucratic Systems Satire
Much of the plot is set against the backdrop of the eco-summit. Through this lens, the film satirizes the performative environmentalism, complicated diplomacy, and justice-denying police red tape bureaucracy.
Critical Reception
Reception towards Nice Girls is mixed to moderately positive.
Positive Responses
Many praised the chemistry of Taglioni and Celma and their energetic performances. The film’s brisk pace coupled with appealing visuals led to comparisons with classic European comedies, which the audiences appreciated.
Another highlight for viewers was the setting of the Riviera, which added aesthetic value and increased production value. Nice Girls satisfied the desire of viewers looking for female-led comedic action films, filling a niche.
Negative Feedback
Critics have highlighted the absence of unique storytelling elements within the movie. Even though the film attempted humor rather crude and overused slapstick, it missed the mark completely. Political satire felt half-baked, and it failed to land either the delicate nuances required for seamless storytelling or provide the ample force needed to leave a mark.
Some audiences found the characters lacking with regard to development, particularly within supporting roles. While the leading characters displayed vigor ‘in’ their roles and energy, the connection between them and their emotional fulfillment during the buddy cop finale fell flat.
Balance of the Critique
Strengths:
A well-suited pair of leads offered energetic portrayal.
Cinematography and the setting both exuded elegance and appeal.
The movie contained a mix of action and comedy, which was balanced well.
There was an attempt at satirical commentary, albeit without much polish.
Weaknesses:
The plot was straightforward and largely unoriginal.
Comedy within the film both missed and hit; too much silliness in portions.
The secondary characters lacked dimensions or complexity.
Certain aspects of the politics were too vague.
Concluding Thoughts
This movie perfectly matched fast-paced action with comedy and provided a lighthearted angle throughout, a formula that is always appealing. Odd couple female leads injected Mediterranean flair complemented by quirky humor. This makes the movie a perfect addition to Netflix’s collection of light international genre comedies.
Although it may not be revolutionary, the movie is entertaining and offers a new take on the buddy-cop formula. The core of the film is the developing friendship between Léo and Mélanie: a relationship that is the result of gunfire, playful insults, and a handful of expertly executed falls.
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