Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
In this sequel to Les Bronzes (1978) summer has passed, but that doesn't mean the fun has to end for Bernard, Nathalie, Gigi, Jerome, Popeye, Jean-Claude, and Christiane.
French Fried Vacation 2 (Les Bronzés font du ski) is a beloved French comedy sequel that transplants the Club Med gang to the ski slopes of the Alps. While hugely popular in France, it is largely a formulaic sequel that recycles the comedic dynamics and character archetypes from the first film in a new setting. The plot is episodic and thin, relying on the charm of the ensemble cast (Jugnot, Lhermitte, Clavier, Balasko et al.) rather than strong narrative construction. The acting is solid ensemble comedy work with good chemistry but nothing transformative. Cinematography is functional for a broad comedy of the era. Novelty is low given its derivative nature as a sequel recycling the same premise with a seasonal swap. The ending, like the film itself, is loose and unambitious.