Daddy Cool (15 ans et demi ...)
By Tom Cassidy,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
French farce has sex, drugs, swearing, and violence.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Daddy Cool (15 ans et demi ...)
Community Reviews
There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.
What's the Story?
In DADDY COOL, Phillipe (Daniel Auteuil) returns to find his 15-year-old daughter, Eglantine (Juliette Lamboley), is growing up fast. When his attempts to control her fail, he soon learns he might have to do some growing up himself.
Is It Any Good?
Rather than trying to delicately balance emotional moments with its surreal comedy, this French farce blunders through in such a bullish fashion it emerges triumphant through sheer force of will. Daddy Cool is ridiculous in parts, very funny in others, and at its heart, is a moving story about a father learning to respect his daughter for who she is and who she's becoming. Among that is another sweet teen love story, a hair scientist sub-plot, and a hilarious father training camp. Arguably some scenes are in bad taste -- Philippe slapping his daughter for example. But in the context of this fast-paced, often silly movie, it just about gets away with it.
Auteuil manages to make errant father Philippe likable, or at least enjoyable, whatever terrible things he's up to. Just as strong opposite him is Lamboley, as his teen daughter, Eglantine. She's just the right amount of unsure of herself around boys as she is headstrong at home. The movie's masterstroke is laying the blame for the breakdown in relations at the feet of Philippe. He has to grow up and learn a lot to get to the level where he and his daughter can face the future together as adults. This is a journey many fathers might be familiar with, and while the dad boot camp Philippe attends is hilariously far-fetched, its lessons are solid grounding for a respectful relationship. For a coming-of-age movie that breaks away from the Hollywood archetype, Daddy Cool is a refreshing romp with a solid message.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Daddy Cool portrayed sex. Was it affectionate? Respectful? Parents, talk to your teens about your own values regarding sex and relationships.
Discuss some of the language used. Did it seem necessary or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How were drinking and drug use portrayed? Were there consequences? Why is that important?
How would you describe the relationship between the teen characters and their parents? Were these relationships realistic or exaggerated for humor? How did the movie encourage communication between teens and parents? Discuss your own relationships with your parents or guardians.
In one scene, Phillipe slaps his daughter. Did the tone of the movie make it less shocking than it might have been? Why was that?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: March 31, 2020
- Cast: Daniel Auteuil , Juliette Lamboley , François Damiens
- Directors: François Desagnat , Thomas Sorriaux
- Studio: Gaumont
- Genre: Comedy
- Topics: Book Characters
- Character Strengths: Communication
- Run time: 97 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Best Father-Daughter Movies
Best International Films for Kids
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate