Once revered as one of the masters of cinema du look, Luc Besson seemed to effortlessly infiltrate the slick world of Hollywood in the 1990s with Leon and The Fifth Element. But judging by his very uneven new feature, it seems that all that culture-crossing may have caused a bit of an identity crisis.
An adaptation of the famous (well, in France) comic books, Besson’s film is based around Adèle (Louise Bourgoin), a writer and explorer who’s determined to cure her ailing sister by reviving the physician of a Pharaoh. Following a wild tomb raid, she brings the mummified doctor back to Paris, where she’s hoping physicist Professor Espérandieu can harness his newly-discovered powers to bring him back from the dead. Unfortunately the scientist has troubles of his own – he’s unwittingly brought a pterodactyl back to life and has to stop it terrorising the entire city.
It’s as outrageous as it sounds, and often wonderfully so. Dinosaurs, mummies, secret missions, disguises, Inspector Clouseau-type detectives and moustacheod villains all combine to make the first act an absurd period farce that’s quite delightful. Bourgoin is simply stunning, bringing an irresistibly seductive quality to the stubborn Adèle. Though her character essentially has two modes, sarcastic explorer or prettily grieving sister, charisma oozes from her every pore, making her a joy to watch. Many of the visuals are equally striking, with Besson turning Paris into a beautifully whimsical city that’s brimming with magic.
But as the plot drags on, it becomes clear that the French charm is covering a multitude of sins. The jokes are repetitive, much of the action is cheesy, and though Besson invokes some of the quirky charm of Amelie, it sits uneasily against the action, which has elements of Indiana Jones, The Mummy and Night At The Museum. As that list would indicate, the results vary wildly. It also ends on a terribly misjudged and offensive coda which made me leave this French fancy with an incredibly sour taste in my mouth.
Though filled with charming touches and starring one of the most seductive actresses working today, the uneven tone of The Extraordinary Adventures Of Adèle Blanc-Sec renders it, well, quite ordinary indeed.