Spoiled Brats (2021)

Spoiled Brats takes a familiar “rich kids get a reality check” setup and makes it sing with breezy French charm, warm-hearted energy, and a surprisingly earnest affection for its characters even when they’re being unbearable. Nicolas Cuche keeps the tone light and lively—more crowd-pleasing farce than sharp satire—letting the comedy come from watching privilege collide with ordinary life, and from Gérard Jugnot’s wonderfully grounded performance as a father whose tough-love plan is equal parts desperate and devoted. The film’s real pleasure is how it turns humiliation into growth without getting preachy, finding sweetness in the mess as these adults finally learn what money can’t buy. If you’re allergic to broad comedy or plots powered by deception, it may not be your thing, but if you want a feel-good, fast-moving comedy with a big heart, this one goes down easy.

Spoiled Brats wants to be a crowd-pleasing “rich kids get humbled” comedy with a warm family lesson, and the setup is solid enough to promise a few satisfying comeuppances. The problem is it often feels like it’s sprinting past the moments that should do the heavy lifting—so the character growth, the moral payoff, and even some of the jokes land softer than they should. If you’re hoping for sharp satire, clever escalation, or a tightly built arc where the lesson really earns its punch, this may feel thin and oddly rushed. Still, Gérard Jugnot brings a likable steadiness, and if you’re content with a light, familiar premise and a couple of chuckles rather than a standout comedy, it can pass the time.