Film Shapes

Ténor is a rudimentary 'fish out of water', 'clash of cultures' drama, with French rap and opera representing the opposing lifestyles. I guess its claim to fame is the fact that the lead is Mohammed Belkhir (a.k.a. MB14), a rapper who appeared on the French version of irritating 'talent' show,  The Voice.  This is his first film but he looks like he's been doing this for yonks, and if it's really him singing, he certainly got some pipes on him. His co-star is the classy Michèle Laroque - she plays Madame Loyseau, the opera tutor who discovers Antione (MB14).  There's nothing ground-breaking here but Claude Zidi Jr. is only on his third film and he doesn't do too much wrong in the handling of it. The story creaks a bit, especially when Antoine is off-screen, and some of the characters are a bit cliched, in the shape of the tough and thick, yet loving brother, Didier (Guillaume Duhesme) and comic mate sidekick, Elio (Samir Decazza). Antoine is spoi...