Guillaume Canet, the multi-talented French actor, writer, and director, takes on the role of an action hero in Netflix’s Ad Vitam, a film that attempts to blend gritty realism with over-the-top action sequences. While the film boasts impressive stunts and a charismatic lead, its convoluted plot and jarring tonal shifts prevent it from reaching its full potential.
Ad Vitam
The film opens with Franck Lazarev (Canet), a former police officer turned structural inspector, scaling the heights of historic Parisian buildings. His seemingly peaceful life is shattered when he and his pregnant wife, Leo (Stephane Caillard), become the targets of a home invasion. This intense opening sequence immediately throws viewers into the heart of the action, leaving them with a sense of unease and anticipation.
However, just as the audience settles into the present-day narrative, the film takes an unexpected detour. A flashback transports us back a decade to Franck’s days in the GIGN, France’s elite anti-terrorist unit. This extended flashback, which occupies a significant portion of the film’s runtime, introduces us to a vibrant cast of characters, including Franck’s fellow recruits and his future wife, Leo. While the flashback provides some context for Franck’s combat skills and his relationship with Leo, it disrupts the film’s momentum and creates a jarring disconnect between the past and present storylines.
The flashback further complicates the already convoluted plot, which involves a mysterious key, international espionage, and a ruthless villain named Vanaken (Johan Heldenbergh). The film’s attempts to weave these disparate elements into a cohesive narrative are ultimately unsuccessful, leaving viewers feeling disoriented and confused.
Ad Vitam suffers from a lack of tonal consistency, oscillating between intimate character moments and bombastic action sequences. The film struggles to find a balance between its grounded, character-driven scenes and its over-the-top set pieces, which feel more at home in a James Bond film than a gritty thriller. This clash of genres creates a sense of dissonance, preventing the audience from fully immersing themselves in the story.
The film’s action sequences, while visually impressive, often feel excessive and out of place. Franck’s near-superhuman abilities, which include scaling buildings with ease and engaging in hand-to-hand combat with multiple assailants, stretch the boundaries of believability. These moments of exaggerated action undermine the film’s attempts at realism, creating a jarring contrast between the grounded and the fantastical.
Despite its flaws, Ad Vitam boasts a talented cast and a visually stunning aesthetic. The film’s depiction of Paris, with its iconic landmarks and picturesque scenery, adds a layer of visual appeal. However, these elements are not enough to compensate for the film’s narrative shortcomings.
One of the film’s biggest missed opportunities is its failure to fully develop its supporting characters. The members of Franck’s GIGN unit, each with their unique personalities and backstories, are relegated to the sidelines, their potential unexplored. Even Franck, the film’s protagonist, remains a somewhat generic figure, lacking the depth and complexity to truly engage the audience.
Ad Vitam is a film that tries to be too many things at once. It aspires to be a character-driven thriller, a high-octane action spectacle, and a commentary on international espionage. However, its failure to reconcile these disparate elements results in a confused and ultimately unsatisfying viewing experience.
While the film offers moments of excitement and visual flair, its convoluted plot, tonal inconsistencies, and underdeveloped characters prevent it from reaching its full potential. Ad Vitam feels like a missed opportunity, a film that could have been much more than a superficial thrill ride.
