Chalet Girl

Name: Chalet Girl
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Released: October 14, 2011
Duration: 97 min
Rating: 42
Cast: Bill Nighy, Brooke Shields, Ed Westwick, Felicity Jones

2011

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Mixed or average reviews based on 5 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Ratings

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5.5	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 15 Ratings

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Chalet Girl

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Movie Details & Credits

IFC Films | Release Date: October 14, 2011 | Not Rated

Starring: Bill Nighy, Brooke Shields, Ed Westwick, Felicity Jones

Summary: Kim is a 19 year old ex-skateboarder, working in a burger bar for a living. When she stumbles into a chalet girl job, she's completely out of her depth, both on the snow - she can't even ski - and with the Madsen family, her uber-posh employers and their ultra-cool son Jonny. Desperate to fit in, Kim dusts off an old snowboard and takes toKim is a 19 year old ex-skateboarder, working in a burger bar for a living. When she stumbles into a chalet girl job, she's completely out of her depth, both on the snow - she can't even ski - and with the Madsen family, her uber-posh employers and their ultra-cool son Jonny. Desperate to fit in, Kim dusts off an old snowboard and takes to the slopes. Unleashing her talents, she enters the resort's pro-boarding competition. As she and Jonny grow closer and the finals draw nearer, Kim could have the world at her feet - but can she overcome the obstacles and odds to triumph? (Momentum Pictures)… Expand

Director: Phil Traill

Genre(s): Comedy, Romance

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 97 min

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Critic Reviews

Leslie Felperin

Oct 10, 2011

A chirpy, tween-skewing, snowboarding-themed romantic comedy, Chalet Girl slaloms exuberantly down a predictable path, kicking up regular flurries of fun along the way. Read full review

Rachel Saltz

Oct 13, 2011

Chalet Girl may not be particularly creative or genre busting or even a great example of a romantic comedy. But its premise might make you smile. Read full review

Staff (Not credited)

Oct 21, 2011

Cinderella stories don't come much more predictable than the happy-ending machine that is Chalet Girl. But the picturesque scenery, light touch of the cast - which includes Bill Nighy as Kim's dryly observant boss - and breezy zip of director Phil Traill's pacing appealingly pair with Jones' irrepressible charm. Read full review

Nick Schager

Oct 11, 2011

Chalet Girl is just a compendium of genre clichés - minus the usual racism and t&a. Read full review

David Fear

Oct 11, 2011

Jones may be a charismatic comedian, but no amount of her skilled mugging, Britpop tunes or help from supporting stars (Brooke Shields, Bill Nighy) can transform this derivative ugly duckling into a comic Anglophile swan. Read full review

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User Reviews

timtorret

Feb 1, 2020

Enjoyable from start to finish, this charming romantic comedy is genuinely funny and has plenty of romance. OK, so in the first few minutes it signals pretty much exactly where it is going to end up plot-wise - but most rom-coms do that, it lets the audience relax. Here it doesn't feelEnjoyable from start to finish, this charming romantic comedy is genuinely funny and has plenty of romance. OK, so in the first few minutes it signals pretty much exactly where it is going to end up plot-wise - but most rom-coms do that, it lets the audience relax. Here it doesn't feel forced, the characters are allowed to develop naturally. The always-game Felicity Jones (Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, The Theory of Everything) is great in this - likeable and with natural wit. She plays the gutsy heroine so well. For me her accent and mannerisms were fairly similar to Renee Zellweger in the Bridget Jones movies.

The mountain scenery was stunning. In case anyone is wondering what it's like to work for a season in a European ski resort, this totally nails it.

My opinion: perfect entertainment, well executed, a fine example of the genre.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DawdlingPoet

Nov 23, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is a sports centered rom-com and it features themes including competitions, public embarrassment, traumatic injuries and family relationships. I found this quite funny from the start - it had the feel of a Bridget Jones film, with the main character being out of her depth, rather clumsy and possibly self conscious, at the start in any case. The plot isn't exactly entirely original but I found it an easy watch and quite enjoyable regardless. There's something to be said for the predictability of rom-com's, aka 'chick flicks'. I'd never normally think of myself as (by any means) a big fan of those kinds of films - I'm not very keen on smooshy/sappy/overly romantic, sentimental type films but I enjoyed this as the lead character wasn't too overly 'girly girl'y-ish, if you know what I mean. I should perhaps point out that this is a British made film, not American, as a lot of the sickly sweet type of films I refer to come from America, so maybe that has something to do with it.

As I say, its surprisingly amusing - the script is fairly witty at points. It isn't exactly an extremely philosophical film or anything like that, its pretty light hearted but, as I say, an easy and fun watch. I, personally, found Kim to be a relatable character, who has some witty retorts to the upper class people she finds herseful surrounded by (who, frankly, deserved it, in my opinion).

Cast wise, Kim is played by Felicity Jones, who appears very much like your average girl next door, an unremarkable but (as previously mentioned) relatable character who I found somewhat endearing. Meanwhile, her father, Bill, is played by comedian Bill Bailey (so Bill is Bill!), playing your average slightly stereotyped (lazy and dim) father and Jessica Hynes briefly appears, as an interviewer at the school, or course, she attends on how to be acceptably posh or otherwise (deportment school perhaps would be the term?). Steve Furst (another comedian) also makes an (if but brief) appearance as a skiier, with Bill Nighy being one of the upper class 'lot', a man called Richard, at the chalet school and Kims love interest, her boss Jonny, is played by Ed Westwick.

Content wise, the film contains sex references and partial nudity (although nothing explicit), some profanities and there are scenes involving binge drinking but otherwise its unlikely to disturb or frighten people. Due to this, it has been given a 12 rating in the UK.

I found myself cringeing alongside Kim in some scenes, as the inevitable awkward social situations predictably appeared. Yes, it is somewhat predictable but I didn't find myself feeling especially bored or distracted, so it could be worse.

Yes I'd recommend this film. For what it is, its good - I found it amusing and entertaining, if a little predictable and probably not entirely original. It features a good cast and some witty dialogue. Ok its not exactly an outstanding film but then i wouldn't expect any film thats categorised as a romantic drama, or romantic comedy, to be especially outstanding but then again, maybe thats a personal thing? as a bit of light hearted fun, I found it surprisingly good and its on that basis that I'd recommend it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

movieboy

May 27, 2012

A skateboarding romance in the Alps wouldn't normally grab me, but loved this little Brit charmer. Even got teary. Felicity Jones as the star is terrific in a Cinderella role as the downstairs lower class chalet girl serving the toffs, which include the always wonderful Bill Nighy. We allA skateboarding romance in the Alps wouldn't normally grab me, but loved this little Brit charmer. Even got teary. Felicity Jones as the star is terrific in a Cinderella role as the downstairs lower class chalet girl serving the toffs, which include the always wonderful Bill Nighy. We all know the outcome from early on, but along the way there's lot of laughs and lots of snow action.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

LeZee

Mar 9, 2017

Hoping for a better job and pay, instead she discovered herself.

I think it was a much better film. I just wanted a good entertainment and I got that. Though the story is not fresh enough. In fact, it is comparable to the recent sports-biopic, I mean that came much later to this, 'Eddie theHoping for a better job and pay, instead she discovered herself.

I think it was a much better film. I just wanted a good entertainment and I got that. Though the story is not fresh enough. In fact, it is comparable to the recent sports-biopic, I mean that came much later to this, 'Eddie the Eagle'. Looks even the filmed location was same. Quite similar theme when it comes to the sporting events, but there's a wide gap on how it was played and by whom.

From the director of 'All about Steve'. Firstly, it was a sport film and then romance attached to it in the required opening slot. So pretty inspiring to focus on something in our life to reach the heights. There's no shortcuts, it's always a hard work. In the film, that concept was funnily told. Encountering a new world, and discovering new things. It includes friendship, love and dedication in what one believes in.

Great cast, except the love interest of Felicity Jones. He wasn't bad, but the chemistry did not work, even in the short span of their romance in the tale. Anyway, the romance parts were too cliché, but neglectable as it has little value. Because there are other reasons to like the film. The stunts are not extraordinary, just simple and realistic. The film will work for most of the people if they're not expecting too much. This is not some chick flick, a better film than that.

6.5/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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