I know nothing of movies from Israel and its film industry but apparently, Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi, which is entirely in Hebrew, has been nominated for 12 Israeli Academy Awards. With such credentials from its home country alone, how can I NOT watch this show?
Like Matt Damon's Good Will Hunting, this is a story about a dormant genius whom everyone overlooks. Shlomi is the sixteen-year-old who flunks tests in school and regarded by everyone, family members and teachers included, to be a semi-retard. However (ironically), he seems to be the only sensible member of his problematic extended family and is not only a wonderful cook, but also has to contend with a myriad of household chores and care for his disabled grandfather simultaneously. In my honest opinion, someone who is already as competent as Shlomi is already a near-genius. This ludicrous premise, coupled with a predictable coming-of-age storyline, does not make Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi a particularly novel or impressive film. I think the constant petty squabbling amongst characters and real-life familial issues are much more credible than Shlomi's own dazzling "talents". Nonetheless, it is actually the cast of talented but relative unknowns that manages to elevate the film from being an ordinary and cliched family comedy-drama. Witty one-liners and an inspired script that is never maudlin, also keep the film at an agreeable pace, making this film an excellent, though light-weight, watch.
my ratings ---- 3.8/5 Stars!!!
