History Main / FrenchJerk

* Averted in ''ComicBook/TheBoys'', in which the Frenchman is probably the nicest, friendliest, most genial guy in the series. He'll crush your skull if you make him mad, but still, by the standards of an [[Creator/GarthEnnis Ennis]] story, stand-up guy.
* You have Georges Batroc, the Leaper, a classic foe of ''ComicBook/CaptainAmerica'' and a giant dickwad to boot. DependingOnTheWriter. He's a tad egotistical, true, but he's not really a jerk most of the time. He gave up crime after hearing Steve lament the fact none of his enemies ever reformed. In fact, Batroc and Cap have [[FriendlyEnemy a pretty friendly relationship]] and he has helped Cap numerous times. Even as a villain, he'll [[EnemyMine team up with Cap]] to take on the ''really'' vile supervillains.
* ''ComicBook/DoomPatrol'' villain The Brain is a an early case of this, being an EvilCripple who turned himself into a BrainInAJar to fight the titular Doom Patrol alongside his sentient gorilla manservant Monsieur Mallah. He's never reformed, but has been made slightly less vile over the years through [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes his relationship with Mallah]].
* Inverted in [[ComicBook/FantasticFour the Thing's]] ''ComicBook/CivilWar2006'' arc. Since the Marvel Civil War seems to involve everyone Ben knows in the U.S. turning into a colossal jerk and he doesn't want to have to pick sides between his friends, he travels to France. The French super-heroes he meets are all a little eccentric, but charmingly nice people, in contrast to how things have gotten back in the States.
* One of ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}}'s earliest foes was Jacques Duquesne aka the Swordsman, a greedy fellow who trained Clint as a boy only to rob the carnival they both worked at and almost kill his pupil in the bargain. Following that he committed various international crimes, tried out for the Avengers hoping to commit bigger crimes while posing as a hero, and eventually fell for Mantis, leading to LoveRedeems.
* ''ComicStrip/{{Nero}}'': Meneer Pheip is a Flemish man of French descent who speaks mangled Dutch with a lot of badly translated French and Dutch. He is a rich arrogant, but dimwitted snob and in some stories he even turns against Nero, though he always forgiven in the end and seen as an irritating nuisance, but a friend nevertheless.

* The Cyclone, Pierre Fresson, from ''ComicBook/{{Thunderbolts}}''. Vain, egotistical, self-serving, and lecherous to the last.

* The ''ComicBook/XMen'' have recurring foe Exodus, a KnightTemplar mutant who became the MouthOfSauron to ComicBook/{{Magneto}} in TheNineties when he was on AGodAmI kick. Originally a mysterious presence, then a one-dimensional fanatic, later writers fleshed him out into a more complex character, truly wanting to protect and defend his fellow mutants but being too crazy thanks to Magneto's indoctrination (and a [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatInsanity not-too-stable powerset]]) to do it without hurting humans. He's come a long way, though, once joining ComicBook/{{SHIELD}} and currently serving on the Quiet Council that governs Krakoa in ''ComicBook/XMen2019''.

* ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania'': Chef Quasimodo Wilson is a culinary man with highly questionable ambitions throughout the movie, from initially trying to make Johnathan "Johnny" Loughran turn into a human pot pie, to later exposing the latter in front of the other monsters as being a human himself. Quasi's own French mannerisms are perhaps a mixture of ''Literature/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'' (where he and his pet rat Esmeralda share the same respective names as with two of that novel's leading characters) and French cuisine in general.

* ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania'': Chef Quasimodo Wilson was a culinary man with highly questionable ambitions throughout the movie, from initially trying to make Johnathan "Johnny" Loughran a human pot pie to later exposing the latter to the other monsters as being a human himself with the help of the former's pet rat Esmeralda. Quasi's own French mannerisms are perhaps a mixture of ''Literature/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'' (where he and his pet rat share the same respective names as with two of that novel's leading characters) and the French cuisine.

* ''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'': Belloq, a French archaeologist [[LesCollaborateurs working for the Nazis]]. He deserved having [[YourHeadAsplode his head asplode]].

* Pascal Sauvage from ''Film/JohnnyEnglish'', an arrogant, ruthless {{aristocrat|sareevil}} who plans to seize the British throne.

* ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania'': Chef Quasimodo Wilson was a culinary man with highly questionable ambitions throughout the movie, from initially trying to make Johnathan "Johnny" Loughran a human pot pie to later exposing the latter to the other monsters as being a human himself with the help of the former's pet rat Esmeralda. Quasi's own French mannerisms are perhaps a mixture of ''Literature/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'' (where he and his pet rat share the same respective names as to two of that novel's leading characters) and the stereotypical association of the culinary field to the French themselves.

* ''WesternAnimation/HotelTransylvania'': Chef Quasimodo Wilson was a culinary man with highly questionable ambitions throughout the movie, from initially trying to make Johnathan "Johnny" Lougran a human pot pie to exposing the latter to the other monsters for being a human himself with the help of the former's pet rat Esmeralda. Quasi's own French mannerisms may be a mixture of ''Literature/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'' (where he and his pet rat share the same respective names as the leading characters in the novel) and the stereotypical association of the culinary field to the French themselves.

** Despite this, however, this is played ''very'' straight with Chef Skinner himself, who personifies this trope the most out of all the movie's characters, especially given his demanding, opportunistic, and overall selfish attitude as the former head chef at Gusteau's restaurant.

** Despite this, however, this is played ''very'' straight with Chef Skinner, who personifies this trope the most out of all the movie's characters, especially given his demanding, opportunistic, and overall selfish attitude as the former head chef at Gusteau's restaurant.

* Played with in ''WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}}''. Collette says at one point, "Sorry to be rude, but we're French. And it's dinnertime," which only makes sense as joke meant to reference this trope. (Were she referring only to the need to rush and prepare dinner, the first part wouldn't be necessary, but whether that's what she meant or not, the first part serves no purpose since they ''are'' in France.) There are some examples of French chauvinism, like the opening narration stating that "although other nations might dispute this fact... [[FoodPorn the best food in the world]] is made in France," and Skinner dismissively calling corn dogs "cheap sausages dipped in batter and fried; you know, American."

[[folder:Films -- Animated]]

* The French Peas in ''WesternAnimation/VeggieTales'' are for the most part in the show, usually friendly and kind, if not mischievous at times. However, early in the show’s run, whenever re-enacting Bible stories, they were often cast as the villainous characters, such as the Philistines, the guards at the wall of Jericho, the Egyptian slave drivers and Ninevites in Jonah.

* ''Film/{{Welp}}'': Two French go-karters are at the camping spot the Belgian Cub Scouts are supposed to be at, but they talk down to them and refuse to move from the spot. This forces the troop to camp even further in the woods, right where the evil WildChild lives. Since this [[ForWantOfANail inadvertently leads to all the horrible things that occur in the film]], this makes the trope all the more apparent.

* An episode of ''Series/MyNameIsEarl'' had a French character that Earl bullied in grade school. He held a grudge against Earl, and upon seeing him again, knocked Earl out with a headbutt. Near the end of the episode it's revealed that the Frenchman came to America in grade school to flirt with the women, his accent having a much sexier effect in America than in France, where it's commonplace. After Earl fulfills the Frenchman's purpose for coming, by taking him out to meet the girls he knew from grade school (including [[HotForTeacher one of the teachers]]) and having sex[[note]]i.e. making out[[/note]] with them, the Frenchman's view of Earl and America as a whole change. Then the Frenchman lets it slip that he is in fact married, and now has cheated on his wife with several women. Kinda of JerkAss thing to do.
* In ''Series/TheWestWing'', the President's youngest daughter took on a French Jerk boyfriend - much to the chagrin of most of the rest of the cast. For most of his run he was just a little bit of a jackass, derided by the gang because he's French but mainly because he knocked Charlie out of the picture. At the end of the fourth season, however, he gives [[strike: ecstasy]] GHB to the daughter, making her kidnapping easier for the perpetrators. Just to pile on the jerkiness, he is written as demanding immunity from prosecution before he'll help US authorities locate her.

* An early episode of ''Series/SeventhHeaven'' had a rather rude French exchange student who smoked and ruined everyone's illusion regarding romantic French people.
* One episode of ''Series/TheInbetweeners'' featured Simon's French exchange partner, Patrice. He was surly and uncommunicative to everyone except [[spoiler:Will's love interest Charlotte, whom he slept with instead]].
* Michel Gerard of ''Series/GilmoreGirls'' is a very obnoxious French guy who works with Lorelai at the Independence Inn. Turns out he's really a JerkWithAHeartOfGold because he's really fond of Lorelai, Rory or Sookie.
-->'''Michel:''' Lorelai, I don't know how many French people you've met over the years, but most of them are insufferable.\\
'''Lorelai:''' Really?\\
'''Michel:''' Mm-hm. That is why I left France.

* The Chameleon in Season 3 of ''Series/NCISLosAngeles'' is revealed to be a French national in the season finale, although he goes ''far'' beyond merely being a jerk.
* Enter, TheDragon of ''Series/TokumeiSentaiGobusters''. It's not known whether he is really French or is even human, but he seems to consider himself French and is fluent in the language, with frequent use of GratuitousFrench.
* In one episode of ''Series/TheThinBlueLine'', everyone at the police station is forced to attend diversity training, but when they're instructed to arrest an illegal immigrant, they get the wrong guy -- causing a major incident because he is actually the European Commissioner for Human Rights (and black). The man turns out to be a French Jerk and instantly starts complaining about everything in Britain: "You British. No wonder we all hate you. Your chocolate isn't chocolatey enough. Your bananas are too long and bendy. And you insist on eating prawn cocktail crisps ''despite the fact that we have told you not to!''"
%% * ''Series/{{JAG}}'': The ICC prosecutor in "People v. SecNav" qualifies.

* ''Series/RootIntoEurope'': Mr. Root assumes all Frenchmen are arrogant intellectuals.

* In the classic-series ''Series/DoctorWho'' episode "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS20E6TheKingsDemons The King's Demons]]", the only French character behaves in a haughty and deliberately offensive manner. Not surprisingly, he turns out to be the villain -- as in ''the'' villain during this period of the series ([[spoiler: it's the Master in disguise]]). Unfortunately, the effects of his trying to be intentionally divisive are rather undermined by his similarity to the [[Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail French Taunter]] in both atrocious accent and ridiculous dialog and behavior.
* Season 5 of ''Series/{{The Flash|2014}}'' introduces yet another version of Harrison Wells named Harrison Sherloque Wells. He is a brilliant French detective, who appears to be an amalgamation of [[Literature/SherlockHolmes his namesake]] and Literature/HerculePoirot. He and Cisco are immediately at odds, he's incredibly lazy and sneaky, snobbish (takes 20 minutes to make tea), casually dismisses Ralph (a fellow detective), and he has five ex-wives (hence his exorbitant fees - gotta pay that alimony). That said, he ''is'' actually a great detective, able to SherlockScan the crap out of Team Flash and quickly identifies Cisco's location by listening to crickets and having Cisco describe the trees around him.
* ''Series/{{Forever|2018}}'': Marisol has a French accent and occasionally makes insulting comments, such as when she blithely tells June that the things she says sound stupid but provide an interesting perspective.

* ''Website/ThatGuyWithTheGlasses'':

* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'': Peter Parker has a couple of run-ins with an obnoxious French waiter during [[ComicBook/TheAmazingSpiderManJMichaelStraczynski JMS's run as writer.]]

** ''VideoGame/BravelyDefaultII'' has Folie, bearer of the [[ArtAttacker Pictomancer]] asterisk and master of the Earth Crystal, who speaks with a strong French accent. A MadArtist not content to use any old pigments for her masterpiece, she kills Roddy and Lily's daughter, Mona, in an explosion to drive Roddy into a grief-induced state of madness and force him to make blue paint from chemical waste. Additionally, she murders many residents of Wiswald to use their blood for red paint, and overgrows the trees around the town with the Earth Crystal's power to source her yellow paint, leaving their children orphaned and homeless. Not to mention she helped ransack Musa in order to obtain the Earth Crystal in the first place.

* In ''VideoGame/BravelyDefault'', Erutus Profiteur is the very French holder of the merchant asterisk and Chairman of the Khamer & Profiteur Merchantry in Ancheim. As if it wasn't bad enough that he works for the duchy that is trying to bring down the warriors of light, he's also a [[CorruptCorporateExecutive corrupt businessman]] who charges an arm and a leg for water in a desert town. Of course, if people don't like his prices they can always go get water for free from the nearby oasis... [[MortonsFork where a gang of bandits is known to stake out in order to rob blind anyone who comes by looking for water]]. Bandits, as it turns out, were hired by Profiteur himself in order to dissuade people from going to the oasis and make staying in town and paying his high prices the more appealing option. Come [[VideoGame/BravelySecond the sequel]], he's still a jerk who only cares about making money, but he's at least given up trying to do so through evil and underhanded methods, which is probably the best you can expect out of him. Also, it turns out his French-ness is JustAStupidAccent, as actual native French-speaker Magnolia can't understand a single word he says.

* The French cook in ''LifeOfPi'', who seems to delight in telling Pi's vegetarian family that they can either eat meat or stay hungry.

* ''Literature/HarryPotter'': Fleur Delacour has a little of this trope when she's first introduced, but the other characters [[DefrostingIceQueen gradually warm up to her]].

* ''Film/ThePatriot'': Major Jean Villeneuve is a subversion. At first he seems like a snobbish sort who treats Colonel Benjamin Martin with contempt (though not without reason, as Martin killed a lot of Frenchmen in the French and Indian Wars), which Martin dismisses as typically French. However, Villeneuve later reveals that his family was killed by British soldiers, his countrymen keep their word about the ships he promised, and he and Martin become FireForgedFriends by the end.

* Alice Boucher of ''Roleplay/SurvivalOfTheFittest'' is an example of this {{trope}}: one of her biggest regrets about being in America is that she doesn't know any insults in English. Due to CharacterDevelopment after being put on the island (as well as a change in writer), she grows out of this '''''very''''' quickly though.

* Pascal Sauvage from the film ''Film/JohnnyEnglish'' lives this {{trope}}, especially when he [[spoiler:burns someone alive with a flamethrower trap in an elevator]].

** Pretty much every (male) French character in Shakespeare, for that matter, though the {{trope}} is averted in ''Theatre/AllsWellThatEndsWell'' and ''Theatre/LovesLaboursLost'' where nearly all the characters are at least nominally French, and possibly subverted in ''Theatre/KingLear,'' in which the King of France is impressed by Cordelia's honesty and marries her despite her recent disinheritance.

* Inverted in [[ComicBook/FantasticFour the Thing's]] ''ComicBook/CivilWar'' arc. Since the Marvel Civil War seems to involve everyone Ben knows in the U.S. turning into a colossal jerk and he doesn't want to have to pick sides between his friends, he travels to France. The French super-heroes he meets are all a little eccentric, but charmingly nice people, in contrast to how things have gotten back in the States.

* Remy, from the ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIII'' series. Though, his Jerk attitude might stem from him being a nihilist, not necessarily French. Abel from ''VideoGame/StreetFighterIV'' avert this, however.

* The antagonists of ''Film/Revenge2017'' are a trio of French men guilty of, or at least complicit in, rape and attempted murder of an innocent young woman. The viewer is reminded of it constantly when they open their mouths due to either their heavily accented English or their talking among each other exclusively in French.

* ''[[Series/Forever2018 Forever]]'': Marisol has a French accent and occasionally makes insulting comments, such as when she blithely tells June that the things she says sound stupid but provide an interesting perspective.

* In ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderMan2012'', Batroc the Leaper (see Comic Books, above) shows up several times. His French Jerk tendencies seem to have been [[CharacterExaggeration greatly exaggerated]] for the show.