Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
An insurance agent and his new secretary become locked in the grip of romance and competition as they train together for a speed-typing contest.
Populaire is a visually dazzling love letter to 1950s French cinema, with lush, saturated cinematography that stands as its strongest asset. The retro aesthetic is executed with real panache and commitment. Acting is charming and competent without being remarkable. The plot is thin and predictable — a familiar underdog-romance arc with little surprise — earning a below-average score. The speed-typing contest premise gives it a quirky hook that lifts novelty slightly above average, though the romantic beats are formulaic. The ending is conventional and satisfying but unremarkable.