Seducing Dr. Lewis (2002)

Seducing Dr. Lewis makes a pleasant addition to the quirky subgenre of what might be called "village comedies"--movies in which the oddball residents of a small village must work together to perpetrate some mild scam or bit of mischief (examples abound, from Waking Ned Devine to Saving Grace to Local Hero). The isolated Canadian community of St.-Marie-La-Mauderne desperately needs a new industry, but the factory they're trying to win requires a resident doctor. When a young doctor from Montreal (David Boutin) gets blackmailed into spending a month in the village, the prickly inhabitants go overboard to woo him--they learn to cook Beef Stroganoff, form a cricket team, and tap his phone. It's all a bit preposterous, but that's part of the charm; this kind of movie thrives on being just a tiny bit over the top. The daffy doings keep one foot on the ground thanks to a combination of skilled character actors (like Raymond Bouchard, who plays the town's struggling mayor) and mysterious girls (like Lucie Laurier, the beautiful postmistress). Fans of The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain will find much to enjoy here. --Bret Fetzer Amazon.com

Charming! Funny! A Delight!

I first saw this movie at the movie theatre and determined to buy it no matter what. I did purchase it and I have watched it many times. Others have mentioned the plot so I will just say it is a great addition to my collection. You will not be disappointed. March 2, 2008

Seducing Dr. Lewis

I gave this DVD to sevedral people and both parties were totally charmed by this film. It's a Canadian film,unknown to many, and feels like a discovery when viewed. The plot concerns a small Canadian Island town which cannot offer employment to its citizens because the closed factory will not reopen unless there is a doctor resident. When they secure a temporary medico the whole town engages in subterfuge to try to convince the doctor that he should stay. The lengths they go to impress the doctor are truly hilarious. One of the funniest scenes shows the town pretending to play cricket because they have heard it is the potential doctor's favorite sport. If you liked "The Full Monty" or "Waking Ned Devine" you will enjoy this movie. January 18, 2008

TELL THE TRUTH??? WHO would believe THAT???

Let's first of all get through all of the critical superlatives such as "Charming,witty,quirky,delightful,rambunctious,a treasure,a gem and affectionate and enjoyable".There now we're done! IT'S TRUE,they all apply and then more!
This Audience Award Winner from the 2003 Sundance Festival is the most refreshing film that I have seen in a while.Cut very much in the mold of earlier British comedies such as AN ENGLISHMAN WHO WENT UP A HILL AND CAME DOWN A MOUNTAIN,SAVING GRACE,THE FULL MONTY and VERY ANNIE MARY,Montreal -based film director Jean-Francois Pouliot (THE LITTLE BOOK OF REVENGE also with the same screen writer Ken Scott of MAURICE RICHARD fame), SEDUCING DR.LEWIS (Le Grand Seduction)takes us into the small fishing village of Mt.Marie-Le-Mauderne at a wild and desperate peek at the 120 inhabitants of this tiny hamlet.Simply put,the town is going under and in order to get a plastics factory to come to their little island they must procure the services of a full time Doctor.They know that their village offers nothing for someone from the "big city" of Montreal three hours away,so the villagers set about to "gild the lily" as it were to reinvent their town to attract a physician in the most ingenious,unconventional and comical of ways.Drug busted Dr.Christopher Lewis (David Boutin of HOCKELAGA and BLACK EYED DOG) all of a sudden finds himself on a small ferry en route to the tiny island.He is modern,loves hockey,fusion jazz and comfortability,and St.Marie will go to any crazy costs to give him what he wants (or this case, thinks he needs!).Will this pack of lies and deceptions that Mt.Marie's citizens work, or will they all be exposed? You really need to see this film to believe it.It is uproariously funny and clever if not slightly formulaic and sappy;but then again it did win over an entire Sundance audience as it did me.Well worth the price on DVD or VHS.
The film is beautifully shot,edited with a gorgeous and appropriately winning soundtrack by Jean-Marie Benoit(JESUS OF MONTREAL).
This is to also encourage viewers to delve into the world of films from Montreal,Quebec,Canada.They are a wonderfully refreshing
divergence from Hollywood when you need it! Very highly recommended. October 2, 2007

Good-hearted and good fun at times

3.5 stars.
An enjoyable little romp that could be 20 minutes shorter, but is worth watching.
It does have subtitles, so you've been warned.
The Quebec fishing village scenery is pleasant, the performances are all solid, the script quite funny at times, and the moral isn't banging you over the head every few minutes.
This film does exactly what it sets out to do, and leaves you with a pleasant aftertaste. Add to that a few very funny moments, and it's worth watching some day. September 17, 2007

Deception And Seduction On The Road To Regaining One's Happiness

Note: French with English subtitles.

Synopsis: With the departure of the once plentiful fishing livelihood the quaint island township of St-Marie-La Mauderne is now on the verge of extinction. Their only chance for survival is to convince a plastic company to build a factory on their island that would provide jobs and self-esteem to a community on welfare. However there are two major obstacles they must first overcome if they have any hope of attracting big business;

1- They must have a population of at least 210 residents and
2- The must have a full-time Doctor living and practicing on the island.

Those are definitely problems since they have a population of only 110 people. Now attracting a doctor, that's a problem they might be able to do something about. This film tells the story about how they went about saving their way of life.

Critique: Released in '02 the lighthearted film `Seducing Dr. Lewis' (La Grande Seduction) is what I like to think of as Quebec's answer to `Waking Ned Devine'. While this French Canadian film is not as quirky or imaginative as the '98 British comedy set in a rural Irish community it does possess a quiet charm all its own, creating an engaging, likeable cast of characters that should sufficiently charm the audience for the duration of the film.

My Rating: 3 1/2 Stars.
August 2, 2007

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