Ducobu 3 (2020)

It is the first day of school at Saint-Potache. Ducobu has just returned from vacation with his friend Léonie Gratin, during which he even found a treasure, and refuses to go back to class. Despite all his efforts to avoid school, he eventually fails and has to make his way back to the classroom. But this year, nothing goes as planned. A new student, Théo-Georges Vincent (nicknamed TGV), takes the famous “dunce’s seat,” which Ducobu has occupied for a long time. TGV bluntly announces that he is there to take Ducobu’s place as the worst student. But unlike Ducobu, TGV uses high-tech artificial-intelligence glasses to cheat without being noticed. Gustave Latouche, their teacher, tries to challenge his new rival by asking him difficult questions, but TGV answers every one correctly with the help of his gadget, which annoys Ducobu. At the same time, another new student joins the class: Willie Blancheberry, a young English playboy with curly hair who charms Léonie at first sight. This makes Ducobu jealous, although he does not dare admit it. Tensions between Ducobu and TGV quickly rise. During a dictation, Ducobu tries to cheat with a mirror fan by copying Léonie’s work, but Latouche catches him and sends him to stand in the corner. Meanwhile, TGV never misses a chance to taunt him. Humiliated, Ducobu decides to go to Kitrish, a shop specializing in cheating gadgets, run by [name not specified]. A regular customer there, he explains that he needs exceptional equipment to beat TGV. The shopkeeper then gives him the most sophisticated cheating tools he has in stock. Alongside this school rivalry, family intrigues grow more complicated. Léonie notices that her mother, Adeline, seems very happy after receiving a message. She quickly guesses that it is from Hervé, Ducobu’s father. Ducobu, for his part, discovers that his father is also exchanging messages with Adeline. They both realize their parents are dating. At home, Ghislaine, the music teacher and Latouche’s partner, sees on television that a singing contest called the Mini Conservatory is offering a substantial prize for the winner’s school. Knowing that Saint-Potache is in serious financial trouble, she decides to prepare her students for the contest. Willie soon stands out among them thanks to his exceptional, prodigious voice. He grows in popularity, and Ghislaine, seeing him as a valuable asset, decides to enter him in the contest alongside Léonie. However, during recess, Willie openly humiliates TGV and Ducobu in front of Léonie, making them angry. In response to this humiliation, the two boys, who had been rivals until then, end up joining forces against Willie. Later, Hervé and Adeline try to hide their budding relationship by arranging to meet at a museum and passing it off as a mere coincidence, pretending they have run into each other there by chance. However, Léonie and Ducobu quickly realize that something is amiss. The children eventually argue when they see their parents putting on an act. Léonie makes a cutting remark about her mother’s style, saying she prefers muscular, burly rappers, not “skinny guys” like her father. Ducobu retorts that his father likes sexy fashionistas like Kim Kardashian or Lady Gaga, not “frumps” like his mother. Thinking their children are right and that their remarks are sincere, Hervé and Adeline take it to heart and decide to change their looks to match the descriptions their children gave. Later, Gustave, still under the influence of his mother, who is also named Ghislaine, convinces her to let the other Ghislaine, his partner, move in with them. This further complicates things at home, as life together becomes very tense between the two women who share the same name. Meanwhile, Hervé, troubled by what Ducobu has told him about the style Adeline likes, goes to a bodybuilding shop, intending to build muscle to win her over. The shopkeeper offers him an illegal powder intended for bulls to increase muscle mass. Curious, Ducobu asks the shopkeeper a few questions. He explains that if a child ingests the powder, it will change their voice, cause spots to appear all over their body, and lead to excessive body-hair growth. Ducobu and TGV decide to make little cakes for Willie and add the powder to them. Their aim is to change his voice and take revenge on him for his arrogant behavior. They prepare their plan with careful, diabolical cunning, hoping their “revenge” will succeed. Influenced by Léonie’s remarks, Adeline completely changes her look to resemble the style she thinks Hervé prefers. She changes her clothes, cuts her hair, and even changes the way she speaks. At Gustave’s home, living with the two Ghislaines quickly becomes unbearable. The women cannot stand each other, and their arguments take over the house. Meanwhile, Willie, unaware of the trick, eats the cakes Ducobu and TGV prepared. After eating them, his voice suddenly changes. Willie quickly realizes that he can no longer sing, which prevents him from taking part in the Mini Conservatory. Later, Ducobu and TGV overhear the adults discussing the situation. They learn that Willie was Saint-Potache’s last hope of survival, and that the school is now doomed to financial ruin. Ducobu decides to take matters into his own hands and replace Willie in the Mini Conservatory contest, using his greatest skill: cheating. Ducobu turns to [name not specified] for help, but he refuses when he learns that Ducobu wants to save the school—until TGV points out that he will lose customers, then shows him an old device that great singers used to improve their voices. With a few modifications by TGV, Ducobu uses a small device to alter his voice and turn it into a beautiful melody. During a music lesson, Ducobu seizes the opportunity and asks to sing in front of the class using his modified voice. His impressive performance leaves everyone speechless, including Ghislaine, the music teacher. Amazed by his talent, Ghislaine decides to enter Ducobu in the Mini Conservatory. The big day of the contest arrives, and Ducobu takes the stage for his first performance. Using TGV’s voice-altering device, he gives a masterful rendition of “Bella” by Gims. The audience is won over, and Ducobu qualifies for the next round of the Mini Conservatory, quickly becoming Saint-Potache’s great hope. Back at school, Ducobu becomes the undisputed star. All the students congratulate and admire him, and he relishes his sudden popularity. He is the center of attention, which eventually annoys Latouche. In class, Latouche tries to regain control by reasserting his authority. He punishes Ducobu, provoking a general revolt among the students, who defend their new hero; even the principal steps in on Ducobu’s behalf. Overwhelmed by the situation, Latouche furiously leaves the classroom and eventually disappears. His absence bothers no one except his partner, Ghislaine. A few days later, the second round of the Mini Conservatory takes place. Ducobu, still accompanied by Léonie, performs Andrea Bocelli’s “Con te partirò.” Their duet impresses everyone with its harmony, and they qualify for the final. However, near the end of the song, TGV’s console, which alters Ducobu’s voice, briefly malfunctions. For one second, Ducobu’s voice is distorted and reverts to what it really sounds like. Fortunately, the incident is so brief that no one in the audience seems to notice. Eventually, Ghislaine and Ducobu go to the National Education psychiatric hospital to find Gustave Latouche, who had withdrawn there after leaving the school. Latouche forgives Ducobu and decides to return to support them. At last, the long-awaited day of the Mini Conservatory grand final arrives. Ducobu faces Charles-Édouard, a talented student from Jean-d’Ormesson School. Everything seems ready, but disaster strikes backstage: Willie, who has become their ally, accidentally spills his Coca-Cola on TGV’s console. TGV panics but tries to reassure Ducobu, saying the console seems to be working, although he cannot guarantee it will last long. Despite the uncertainty, Ducobu has no choice. Determined to save Saint-Potache, he takes the stage to perform “On écrit sur les murs” by Kids United. At first, everything goes perfectly, and his performance seems to win over the audience. But after the first chorus, disaster strikes: TGV’s console completely crashes. Ducobu’s voice begins to distort chaotically, shifting from very high to very low, and the music stops abruptly. The audience immediately realizes that he has been cheating. In shock, Léonie runs off the stage. The presenter then pulls a lapel microphone from Ducobu’s collar, compares it to a vocal-doping device, and declares Charles-Édouard the winner of the contest. Ducobu’s humiliation seems complete, but in one final act of courage, he asks to speak so he can explain himself. Ducobu publicly admits that he cheated, acknowledges his wrongdoing, and explains that he had only one motive: to save his failing school, Saint-Potache. He confesses that he wanted to win the prize money to give his school and classmates a chance. Moved by his speech, the presenter decides to donate part of his salary to help Saint-Potache avoid closure. Adeline and Hervé kiss. Shortly afterward, Ducobu goes to find Léonie and apologize. In a sincere moment, he confesses his feelings and tells her he loves her. Léonie accepts his apology and admits that she loves him too. Amid the audience’s applause, they kiss.