# "Shrek" question: Robin Hood with a French accent?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrek-question-robin-hood-with-a-french-accent/219974
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [December 19, 2003, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrek-question-robin-hood-with-a-french-accent/219974 "2003-12-19T15:17:53Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 2

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### Author: ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [December 20, 2003, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrek-question-robin-hood-with-a-french-accent/219974/21 "2003-12-20T06:09:00Z")

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This Robin was snotty, obnoxious, and sexist, which for stereotype purposes was cinched by making him French.

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### Author: ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)
#### Post date: [December 20, 2003, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrek-question-robin-hood-with-a-french-accent/219974/22 "2003-12-20T07:57:51Z")

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There was also that choreography, ranging from Irish step-dancing, to _West Side Story_-esque rumble. I think it was all done just for comic effect (and quite successfully, as I’m not the first to point out).

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### Author: ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [December 20, 2003, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrek-question-robin-hood-with-a-french-accent/219974/23 "2003-12-20T13:58:29Z")

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Yeah, he’s meant to be this rogueish lover. So naturally you’d make him French.

Then again, perhaps he went to school in Quebec.

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### Author: ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2003, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrek-question-robin-hood-with-a-french-accent/219974/24 "2003-12-21T00:05:25Z")

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I didn’t understand it either. I’m embarrassed to admit that it annoyed me a great deal - that’s _my_ country’s legendary hero, not some bloody Frenchman! **Marley23** probably has the reason for it. Can’t think of any other. The scene was funny - because of Princess Fiona’s ass-kicking, not because of the accents.

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### Author: ![Zcrysis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zcrysis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zcrysis)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2003, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrek-question-robin-hood-with-a-french-accent/219974/25 "2003-12-21T09:13:08Z")

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Ive always thought it was a take on Robin Hood and Men in Tights. If i remember correctly the script goes something like:

Sheriff: And why would the people follow you?

Robin: Because unlike other Robin Hoods, **I** can speak with an English accent.

Sheriff: Hmm…

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### Author: ![Tuco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tuco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuco)
#### Post date: [December 21, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shrek-question-robin-hood-with-a-french-accent/219974/26 "2003-12-21T15:38:14Z")

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In Hollywood films English accents are for the baddies, Robin Hood is a goody so can’t have an English accent.

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