Sylvie and Guy have aged, but they’re still just as funny in the new episodes of A guy, a girl. They’re in their 60’s, active (even in bed) and as in love as they were when they left us, when they adopted a girl from Asia and Sylvie found out she was pregnant.
Twenty years later, the two children are ready to fly alone, at least Camille (Anyjeanne Savaria), an LGBTQ+ activist studying at Sherbrooke, when Charles (Jean-Christophe Leblanc) makes a tanguy of himself. Still, Sylvie (Sylvie Léonard) and Guy (Guy A. Lepage) that their suburban home is now too big and they want to go back to the city.
The magic works like in the good old days of A Man, A Girl in the two new episodes watched Wednesday, out of four in total. This “gift” for the 25th anniversary of the cult comedy from Quebec – mostly adapted abroad – is extremely funny and has a very good pace, every half hour goes by too quickly.
PHOTO COUR TESY OF Radio Canada
Gaëtan Essiambre’s music, Guy A. Lepage reminds us, is the third character in the series, now directed by Jean-François Fontaine and produced by Guy A. Lepage and his wife Mélanie Campeau.
We added rhythm to the whole thing without distorting the codes – like the sequence recordings – of the original product, which aired on Radio-Canada from 1997 to 2003. The story now has continuity and we feel like we’re missing the usual dinner and bedroom blocks “because we had to put everything we had done in context,” according to Guy A. Lepage.
Without wanting to reveal too much, let’s say it’s about erectile dysfunction, the DIX30, the parking difficulties on the plateau, the wrong gender, succession, reflux, the smart watch that regulates everything and Sylvia’s doctorate in sexology.
The pair are modern and have a lot to say as they prepare to move to a Montreal that has changed a lot. “I wanted it to be a modern couple, yes quirky, because in life even we weren’t born with the same tools as young people. But there is a modernity to the subject that I wanted,” said Sylvie Léonard, who provided writing support for Guy A. Lepage, as did Mélanie Campeau, Pascal Lavoie and Martin Petit.
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Among other things, we recognize the Avenue du Mont-Royal, where scenes were shot last summer in front of people who had a ready-made answer ready so they wouldn’t hear about the return of One Man, One Daughter. : Sylvie and Guy are shooting a sketch for Patrice L’Écuyer’s show “Prière de ne sent de fleurs”!
The other familiar characters are back, carried by Daniel Brière, Geneviève Brouillette, Élise Guilbault, Pierre Lebeau, Mahée Paiement, Martin Petit and Louise Richer. Also part of this version 2.0 are Nathalie Breuer, Normand Helms and France Parent, who have returned in different roles from episode to episode.
Sylvie Léonard’s daughter, Camille Léonard, plays Mau, Sylvie and Guy’s daughter’s blonde. And of course there are several lightning-fast performances, including those of Isabelle Brouillette, Rodger Brulotte, Hugolin Chevrette, Simon Lacroix and Caroline Néron.
At the moment we don’t know if there will be more episodes after these four new episodes. The decision rests with the broadcaster and the public, said Guy A. Lepage, who revealed a dozen adaptations are still in production worldwide. Ah yes, in France many believe the concept is their own, but no, it is actually Quebecois.
From March 9th, ICI TOU.TV EXTRA will provide one episode every week. Fans who don’t want to pay won’t have to wait long, as the broadcast is scheduled in the “STAT” box Monday through Thursday at 7 p.m. starting April 24.