He's My Girl

By: Robert O'Neill
In-House Review - Jul 18 2013

An unofficial follow-up to the 1998 comedy Man is a Woman, He's My Girl (known in Europe as La folle histoire d'amour de Simon Eskenazy) is a fast-paced, spirited gay farce in the vein of La Cage aux Folles.

The film follows the ongoing adventures of Simon Eskenazy (Antoine de Caunes). A successful clarinetist in the process of finishing an album, Simon is a very busy man. Already overextended by work, he hits a breaking point when his melodramatic, ailing mother (Judith Magre) insists that he care for her in a time of need. If all that weren't bad enough, he's also juggling an insistent agent, an ex-wife, a ten-year-old son and two younger male lovers.

With a fit body and professorial good looks, Simon doesn't have trouble finding young guys with "daddy" fantasies to satisfy his horndog impulses. He has been in a relationship with Raphael (Micha Lescot), a timid, but affectionate 30-year-old teacher, for more than a year, but soon finds his interest divided when he meets Naim (the stunning Mehdi Dehbi), an immensely talented female impersonator who works as a waitress at a local cabaret.

Brimming with the confidence of a femme fatale, Naim is a sight to behold both in and out of drag. Unfortunately, the pair have some major cultural differences: Naim is Muslim whereas Simon is an Ashkenazi Jew. Simon is feeling the pangs of true love, but he is extremely reluctant to admit it. However, when Naim, in character as "Rose," proves adept at caring for his high-maintenance, bed-ridden mother, he starts reconsidering all of his preconceived notions and fears.

A witty script, colorful direction and marvelous performances - particularly from Dehbi, who pulls double duty as Rose and Naim - combine to make He's My Girl a unique and eccentric feel-good comedy.

By: Amos Lassen

Simon Eskenazy (Antoine de Cauens---his performance brought him a Cesar nomination) has a full plate. He is trying to finish a record as his ill mother tries to move in with him. His ex-wife, Rosalie, has turned up with their ten-year old son; his agent is making demands as is his lover, Raphael.
The film is a sequel to "Man is Woman" (1998) and it is a charming love story. Simon is a famous clarinetist known for his jazz solos and his life in Paris is good until he meets Naim, an Arab cross-dresser, and they fall in love. Naim decides to help Simon with his mother who as no idea that she is a man and Simon is in no hurry to tell her so. Simon's relationship with Naim causes him to deal with his fears and preconceived notions about Arabs. Simon is Jewish and he has been taught things about Arabs but now his is into overlooking them because love just kind of happens. At night Naim becomes Rose and works as a waitress.
In the earlier film, Simon had to come to terms with his homosexuality and we see here that he did just that. Now his is open about whom he is and in fact is even a bit stereotypical. However, his relationship with Naim is difficult to describe and both men struggle with it.
Naim is determined to take care of Bella, Simon's mother but Simon does not want her around and especially not since she is bed ridden. Naim poses as a female law student to care for her and this causes Simon to reevaluate his home life. There is a lot of fun to be had watching this film but it is not to be taken too seriously.