Sweet film, charmingly played. And sure, those American tourists exist - I've seen them. But there seem to be lots of swipes at Americans. They are boorish, they can't speak French, they don't know wine ... On the other hand, the film is full of stereotypes, so maybe this shouldn't bother me.
shareLook, speaking as someone who IS American, the stereotypes of us are spot on. Americans as a whole are smug, selfish, self-indulgent, lazy and rude. When we interact with or go to other countries, we perpetuate our own stereotypes. Those stereotypes would not available if Americans and their behaviors had not given rise to them. Stereotypes of any kind are always rooted in substantial truth, whether the target of those stereotypes like to admit it or not. Short answer.....Americans need to stop acting like jackasses when they visit other countries or even when interacting with people from different countries while on American soil.
shareHey - I admit those obnoxious Americans exist. But we're not all that way, not by a long shot. The jabs just always seem like cheap shots. But there are plenty of stereotypes to go around in this film, which I enjoyed in spite of this aspect. France is lovely and can exercise exactly the kind of charm showcased in this movie. And his American cousin (stereotypical California girl?) had a lot of charm, too. Maybe I just overreacted to some throwaway lines.
shareLook, speaking as someone who IS American, the stereotypes of us are spot on. Americans as a whole are smug, selfish, self-indulgent, lazy and rude. When we interact with or go to other countries, we perpetuate our own stereotypes. Those stereotypes would not available if Americans and their behaviors had not given rise to them. Stereotypes of any kind are always rooted in substantial truth, whether the target of those stereotypes like to admit it or not. Short answer.....Americans need to stop acting like jackasses when they visit other countries or even when interacting with people from different countries while on American soil.
Actually, it was the U.S.S.R. that did the most to defeat the Third Reich--not Uncle Sam.
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Thank you for proving the point that a lot of Yanks are ignorant arrogant blowhard douchebags.
shareThe Spams were clueless in the first world war. Had to be lead by the hands by the french and British Empire troops.
sharebefore some snot there whose father dropped his rifle and ran tells you they're better than you areAs opposed to the current Presidential candidate who whined about his sore foot so he wouldn't have to hold a rifle in the first place, yet now claims to know more about wars and the military than the people who've done it their entire lives?
I don't agree. all the americans I have met in England have been polite and charming. I daresay there are a few who behave like the couple in s Good Year, but there are more who are like Christy - polite, enthusiastic and positive. For that matter, the couple could esily have been British - the British are notorious for beimg unwilling to eat foreign food, and if you go to any of the major resorts frequented by the British in Spain etc you will find them full of places serving fish and chips etc.
shareIt does play to form.
But that's a good thing. I find most Americans I meet in London are very aware of their boorish stereotype,and go out of their way to adapt and behave differently.
(Even the Germans aren't the worst for grabbing all the sunbeds on the beach these days!).
I am not American but I thought it was spot on even though I know fully well that not all tourists are like that. Every country has their stereotype behavior.
It was a classic: Salad nicoise with light raaanch dressing and would you sprinkle some bacon bits on it. LOL
The "obnoxious Americans" were presented at a distance. I'm from Boston and I've seen Americans like that in foreign locales. It's not embarrassing, just mildly entertaining. They conform to a stereotype--stereotypes exist to some extent that they reflect reality.
shareWell I would say not every in general know their wines. Although I do like wine I'm not a big drinker so I don't know my wine and Spanish comes more in handy as a second language in America as oppose to French. Right now I'm watching the beginning of the movie so j haven't viewed these stereotypes. By the way Americans are far from rude, I have come across a good number of we'll travelled internationals who commented on Americans politeness and friendly nature. Oh, and lazy, yeah Americans may not be up there with Japan but we're hardly lazy, workaholics and we're lucky if we're allotted two cosecutive weeks of vacation.
share“Americans are a very modern people, of course. They are a very open people too. They wear their hearts on their sleeves. They don't stand on ceremony. They take people as the are. They make no distinction about a man's background, his parentage, his education. They say what they mean and there is a vivid muscularity about the way they say it. They admire everything about them without reserve or pretence or scholarship. They are always the first to put their hands in their pockets. They press you to visit them in their own home the moment they meet you, and are irrepressible, good-humored, ambitious, and brimming with self-confidence in any company. Apart from all that I've got nothing against them.”
—Tom Stoppard