Cheese-Eating Surrender Monkeys: Difference between revisions

 

== Anime & Manga ==

** Italy is a fully qualified Pasta-Eating Surrender Monkey. The series ''name'' means "Hopeless Italy". Quite explicitly, Italy can't even beat WWII France after Germany's taken him out. During the Renaissance, he's too young (i.e. little city states) and the story is basically falling in and out of Imperial control. Because the series keeps its [[Politically-Correct History|history]] light enough for comedy, this is only [[Played for Laughs]] and part of his [[Moe Moe|cuteness]]. The Axis is really a [[Comic Trio]] rather than a [[Power Trio]].

* ''[[Hellsing]]'' averts this beautifully, at least in the Dark Horse manga translation. Pip Bernadotte is the biggest [[Badass Normal]] in the entire series, and he speaks almost entirely in French [[Poirot Speak]] with a touch of [[Funetik Aksent]] and makes a few mentions of not having lived in London for long.

 

== Comics ==

** In some kind of unexpected subversion, Sonic himself seems to be French or of French descent, since his family all have French forenames: Bernadette (Mother), Jules (Father) and Charles (Uncle). That and [http://sonic.wikia.com/wiki/Sonic_the_Hedgehog_(Archie_character) his real name is Maurice].

* In one ''[[The Simpsons|Simpsons]]'' comic, Hank Scorpio was able to conquer France with nothing more than a cheese-melting laser. Note that the Laser was really only able to melt cheese and nothing else.

 

== Fan Works ==

{{quote| '''Polnareff:''' I'm French! We NEVER surrender!<br />

'''Kakyoin:''' Yes, and I'm Japanese, we never attacked Pearl Harbor, now let's get outta here! }}

 

 

 

== Films -- Live Action ==

* ''[[Johnny English]]'' contains a fair amount of French bashing, because the main villain of the movie is French. At one point a British radio host asks his listeners to call him and say what they like about the French. He doesn't receive a single phone call.

{{quote| "In my opinion, the only thing the French should be allowed to host is an ''invasion''."}}

* Shown in ''[[Casablanca]]'', as the city of Casablanca is part of [[wikipedia:Vichy France|Vichy France]] and [[Les Collaborateurs|cooperating with the Nazis.]] Averted at the end when Captain Louis Renault decides he will be [[Neutral No Longer]], symbolically throws a bottle of Vichy water into the trash and suggests to Rick that they leave Casablanca and [[La Résistance|join the Free French at Brazzaville.]]

** The French also show their [[Heroic Resolve]] by defiantly singing "La Marseillaise" and drowning out the Germans in the bar.

** While ''Godzilla'' '''tries''' to avert this, the French Secret Service lead by Reno's character does complain out loud about the food, and when Godzilla awakens from the torpedo attack, it is Jean Reno himself who suggests running away. Admittedly, that was probably the most sensible thing to do in that situation.

*** They're not complaining about the food, actually Jean Reno's character seems to like the donut, they're complaining about that God dammed filter Coffee that everybody in America or influenced by American pop-culture seems to love. Add to that, the flavor was '''French Roast.'''

{{quote| '''Paul:''' Sir, do you really think you can take Paris?<br />

'''Mayor:''' Why not? It's only been done by everyone who's ever tried. }}

** When the actor Ed O'Neill later starred in a remake of ''Dragnet'', he was investigating a murder, and interviewing a latina maid. Her boss (who was having an affair with her) said, "You wouldn't be interviewing her if she was French!". Sgt. Friday replied, "Well, I have a thing about the French."

* Jeremy Clarkson, one of the presenters of ''[[Top Gear]]'' is given to using the phrase "Cheese Eating Surrender Monkeys" when he refers to the French. He'll also modify the phrase when appropriate; e.g., during the Val Thorens ice race the other drivers were "cheese-eating sideways monkeys."

'''Kitty:''' I think they're French.<br />

'''Red:''' Yes, and if they buy this house, they'll give it to the first German who knocks on the door! }}

** Even in the 24th century, the French are [[Cheese-Eating Surrender Monkeys]].

*** [[It Makes Sense in Context]], though. Also, as the series progresses, the Enterprise (under Picard's command) engages in a number of badass battles, even genuinely hopeless ones such as where the ship has to fight off three Klingon attack ships whilst defending the Enterprise-C in "Yesterday's Enterprise" (the Klingons even hailing the crippled ship at one stage to demand surrender, Picard responding, "That'll be the day..."). Another great example comes from the eighth Star Trek film "First Contact", where Picard, using the knowledge of the Borg that he gained while being temporarily assimilated into their collective, is able to direct a beleaguered Federation fleet to fire an alpha strike at a weak point in an attacking Borg cube, blowing it away, the Enterprise-E herself delivering the coup-de-grâce in the form of a well-placed volley of quantum torpedoes... Ahem, sorry, this troper's nerdgasm is now over...

** Although they also repeatedly mention the British running away at Dunkirk.

** And the series actually averts this trope as Rene is one of the few cowardly characters (and his cowardice extends to all situations). Most of his staff, the Resistance fighters and even Rene's mother-in-law generally are not keen to lay down arms.

* In the "Ming Warrior vs. Musketeer" episode of ''[[Deadliest Warrior]]'', this is waaaay averted. The Musketeers are presented as nothing less than 100% Badass (as are the Ming). {{spoiler|The Musketeers defeated the Ming Warriors 674 times out of a possible 1000}}.

** Season 3 full on inverts it, with Napoleon Bonaparte, Joan of Arc, and the French-born William the Conqueror all kicking ass in the first two episodes. {{spoiler|Of those three, only Joan of Arc wins her matchup (against William), but their combined kills are nearly 7,500.}}

** Though apparently without General Wellington leading the Brits, the French would have apparently won anyway, at least according to this picture.

* Averted in Season 16 of ''[[The Amazing Race]]''; a leg in France had WWI-themed tasks and described the bravery of the French soldiers against Germany.

* Mike of ''[[Spaced]]'' once attempted a one-man invasion of Paris with a stolen Chieftain tank. He only failed because he decided to stop off at [[Disney Theme Parks|Euro Disney]] on the way.

* Brought up by a British art curator at the White House in [[The West Wing]]. C.J. Cregg is returning a painting to a woman whose family was stripped of its property during [[World War II]] by French Nazis.

{{quote| '''C.J.:''' We contacted the French-<br />

'''Limey Snob:'''[interrupting] Who promptly surrendered! }}

* ''[[The Borgias]]'' subverts this to its fullest extent by presenting the French army as a pack of bloodthirsty, highly skilled warriors who've recently invented some extremely grisly war machines.

 

*** Little known fact, the one fight Gabby Jay won was ''against'' Glass Joe.

* One cutscene of ''[[Armed and Dangerous]]'' has Rexus using his [[Jedi Mind Trick]] powers to cause two mooks to surrender by convincing them they were French. [[Funny Moments|It is hilarious]].

** But then again those ''are'' insults like the Sniper is mocked for living in a [[Incredibly Lame Pun|"camper"]], the Heavy for being [[Stout Strength|"fat"]], etc.

* ''Command and Conquer Red Alert 2'' multiplayer plays with this trope. If a player hits the function keys F1-F10 while playing, a country-specific voiceover will ask allies for help or will taunt the enemy. F6 sends a taunt calling on the opposing player(s) to surrender. If playing as France, the voice-over says "Surrender! No, I don't mean ''I'' surrender, I mean ''you'' surrender!"

* Of all the national stereotypes the ''[[Street Fighter]]'' series mocks, this is one that they surprisingly [[Averted Trope|don't]]. There are two French characters throughout the series -- Remy, a nihilistic [[Nietzsche Wannabe]], and Abel, an MMA-style fighter who specializes in judo.

** Though, a common [[Mondegreen]] of Abel's [[Unnecessary Combat Roll|Marseilles Roll]] has him saying "I surrender!"

* Inverted in ''[[Europa Universalis]]'', where France is the subject of much [[Memetic Mutation]] regarding the killer blue blob. Contrary to popular belief, it can in fact be defeated but it's not easy.

* Thiery Trantigne in ''[[Odium]]'' is a coward, to the point where he screams in panic how they're all going to die even when facing the most pathetic of monsters. He also once expresses disgust at the thought of risking his life for a teammate.

* Averted in ''[[The Saboteur]]'', as the French Resistance is solely responsible for driving the Nazis out of Paris. Near the end of the game's flashback sequence, while you're escaping pursuing German forces after escaping a Nazi facility, you can also see Frenchmen running out to shoot at the Germans with farming shotguns.

* In ''[[The Sims]] 3'', one of the books you can buy in the French holiday town is "The White Flag of Victory".

** No mention of Smeargle? He is pretty much THE French Pokemon. He even has a beret and everything!

* In [[World of Tanks]] expect a lot of jokes about this if french tanks are on the field in the beginning of the battle, that is before the actual battle happens. After this its subverted to some degree: the later French tanks are some of the fastest on field and thus the first to engage enemies, often soon enough those didnt expect fire and are nowhere near cover, not to mention they can dish out a lot of damage in short time, killing you [[Incredibly Lame Joke|before you can even say cheese]], but lacking armor for their speed and firepower, they will [[A Worldwide Punomenon|surrender fast if you so much as point your gun at them.]]

== Web Comics ==

* Frog from ''[[Sluggy Freelance]]'': "We surrender! ''There!'' How's that? Does that take care of your hunger to disparage others for some 'larfs?'"

** Later, France pesters Dr. X on every little detail of how the country should be run. He tells them to do what they would have done normally. The next day's [http://galactanet.com/comic/view.php?strip=438 newspaper] has the headline "France surrenders to Germany", much to the surprise of the Germans.

* ''[[Irregular Webcomic]]'' has this with [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/2006.html French battle plan number one]. Do note that DMM has inverted this trope [http://www.irregularwebcomic.net/1859.html before].

 

 

{{quote| 1555. No matter how well I roll on my intimidate check, France won't surrender.}}

* [http://www.cracked.com/article_18409_the-5-most-statistically-full-shit-national-stereotypes.html Cracked.com] did an article on false national stereotypes, with the "cowardly Frenchman" as the first example.

** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXxFzLjlVf4 Wine and Cheese, Surrender to the Nazis!]

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGtd0KkOvG4 Tiberium ecstasy] is a C&C Tiberian Dawn parody. Nod takes over France. Counts of the stereotypes:

** The main team that was supposed to get money went to a town, and wanted to get money from a church building. The french person was lying about money, after one of them suggested to burn the french person, the final words for the unfortunate person was, "I SURRENDER."

** Another french person went and shot the Nod soldiers, and ran after the flame trooper found out the person was shooting.

* In the fanfiction [http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4078106/1/ Egg Belly], our favourite [[Schoolgirl Lesbians|couple]] - Konoka and Setsuna - go out for dinner at Mahora Town's French restaurant. Ku Fei sneaks in to get a picture, steals the waiter's uniform ''and moustache'', gets discovered, and - in the words of the author - "'Uh... Time for me to be French again... I surrender!'" wailed Ku Fei, turning about in the finest tradition of the French military and dashing for an alternate escape route- i.e. the window."

* From episode 7 of ''[[Super Mario Bros the Parody Series]]'':

* The website Albino Blacksheep has [http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/text/france.html the Complete Military History of France].

* Subverted in [[Mall Fight]]. Tox hails from France, and is one of the most powerful and violent Fighters.

{{quote| 20. Must not taunt the French any more.}}

 

** In the story of Joan of Arc, Homer remarks "Victory? We're French! We don't even have a word for it!!" <ref>Just a joke, though; the French word for "victory" is "victoire."</ref>

** Subverted in ''Treehouse of Horror VIII'', when Mayor Quimby insults the French they declare war on Springfield, and destroy it with a neutron bomb.

* ''[[South Park]]'' episode "Fatbeard": "They're French, so they surrendered immediately." The fact that they surrendered to a nine-year-old with ''[[Exaggerated Trope|a plastic lightsabre]]'' is damning even by the standards of this trope.

** It was an "Un Lightsabre Terrible!"