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What's in a Name(Le Prénom)

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France, Belgium · 2012
Rated PG · 1h 49m
Director Matthieu Delaporte
Starring Patrick Bruel, Valérie Benguigui, Charles Berling, Guillaume de Tonquédec
Genre Drama, Comedy

Vincent, a wealthy real estate agent, is invited to dinner by his sister Elizabeth and her husband Peter, both professors in Paris. Claude, a childhood friend and trombonist in a symphony orchestra, is also present. Vincent brings news from the prenatal examination of his and his wife Anna's unborn son. The name chosen by the soon-to-be parents strongly offends the others for many reasons. The dispute between the guests quickly escalates and before long the resurgence of old grudges and hidden secrets is unavoidable.

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What are critics saying?

70

Variety by Boyd van Hoeij

The directors have brought onboard the entire original cast. This makes their job much easier, as countless performances have perfected the timing and tone of each single line.

70

Village Voice by Inkoo Kang

The French chamber dramedy What's in a Name is frequently delightful, full of ribald humor and compelling, intelligent debate.

70

The Hollywood Reporter by Jordan Mintzer

Adapting their highly successful stage version to the screen with keen comic-timing but much less cinematic panache, Mathieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patelliere offer up a lively take on love, friendship and baby-naming.

50

The Dissolve by Nick Schager

Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte’s comedy (based on Delaporte’s play) comes across as a poor man’s Carnage, with bitter resentments and cruel assumptions erupting from beneath its characters’ seemingly cheery, jovial façades.

80

The New York Times by Stephen Holden

In their intensity, the actors’ incisive, impeccably coordinated performances are pitched slightly above normal conversation but not so much that “What’s in a Name?” shatters credibility.

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