Call My Agent Is Magnifique

A witty French comedy provides major laughs on Netflix

Making its debut in 2015, French comedy Call My Agent! has been around for awhile, but it’s something I recently discovered while surfing through Netflix—and I’m glad I did.

The show follows the exploits of a group of Parisian talent agents who represent the country’s most popular stars. When the agency’s founder dies under scandalous circumstances, it’s up to the firm’s four partners to keep the place afloat and its stars signed on: Andréa Martel (Camille Cottin), openly gay and even more openly ambitious; Mathias Barneville (Thibault de Montalembert), whose cunning is outweighed only by his ethical bankruptcy; Gabriel Sarda (Grégory Montel), an up-and-comer who’s usually outfoxed by Mathias; and Arlette Azémar (Liliane Rovère), a wily veteran who’s seen it all, done it all and knows where the bodies are buried.

In the vein of Entourage, Call My Agent! features actual actors playing skewed versions of themselves; while most of them may not be immediately recognizable to North American viewers, some will, including such stars as Juliette Binoche, Monica Bellucci, Isabelle Huppert, Jean Reno, Isabelle Adjani and Sigourney Weaver, the sole American star to make an appearance (she’s reportedly a big fan of the show and producers jumped on her offer to play herself in an episode).

The comedy boasts a distinctive French sensibility. For example, when Andréa discovers her new assistant (Fanny Sidney) has a pre-existing relationship with Mathias, she assumes she was his mistress; instead, she’s revealed to be his illegitimate daughter.

The series is slick and gorgeously shot, showcasing the beauty of Paris, but it’s also ribald and hilarious; in fact, Call My Agent! has earned one of Rotten Tomatoes’ rare 100 percent rankings. Check it out and learn why.

Call My Agent! streams on Netflix