À toute allure, directed by Lucas Bernard and due in theaters November 6, 2024, is a romantic comedy full of freshness and energy. With a stellar cast including Pio Marmaï, Eye Haïdara and José Garcia, the film stands out for its bold blend of romance, action and humor, all set in unexpected settings: submarines, deserts and even the Arctic. This whirlwind adventure promises to be off the beaten track, while remaining true to the essence of traditional romantic comedies.
The plot follows the unlikely encounter between Marco, an intrepid steward (played by Pio Marmaï), and Marianne, a submarine officer with a strong personality (played by Eye Haïdara), during a stopover. What begins as a one-off adventure quickly turns into a hectic epic, as the two characters find themselves embroiled in increasingly crazy situations. This dynamic pushes the characters beyond the usual clichés, and explores power dynamics and seduction games with a healthy dose of humor.
What makes À toute allure particularly unique is its blend of genres: Lucas Bernard draws as much inspiration from action films (notably In Pursuit of Red October) as from romantic comedies, injecting a healthy dose of rhythm and energy into every scene. Humor is omnipresent, with punchy dialogue and zany situations, at times recalling the spirit of the OSS 117 films. One scene in particular, where a simple song hummed by Marco spreads throughout the submarine's crew, is a moment of pure charm, illustrating just how well the film knows how to play with its absurd situations to amuse and captivate the viewer.
Pio Marmaï shines in the role of Marco, infusing his character with an infectious energy. His ability to move from the comic to the emotional, while remaining credible in the action scenes, is widely praised. His performance is reminiscent of some of the best actors in romantic comedies, where glibness rubs shoulders with genuine vulnerability. The character of Marco, with his spontaneity and humor, brings a constant lightness to the film, while being at the heart of its emotional moments.
As forEye Haïdara, she impresses in the role of Marianne, a woman of character, proud of her profession as a submarine officer. She infuses her character with an independence and strength that transcends traditional romantic comedy clichés, while fitting in perfectly with the film's humor. Her interaction with Pio Marmaï is full of tension and complicity, creating a duo that is both touching and dynamic. Their often piquant exchanges, such as Marco's ironic take on the submariner's job (" You go round and round underwater, hoping you won't have to use your missiles! "), keep the plot moving at a brisk pace.
Lucas Bernard pulls off an interesting gamble here: combining action elements with the humor of romantic comedies. Although the film is rooted in an assumed lightness, certain moments of action, such as the scenes in the desert or in arctic zones, bring an additional tension that energizes the narrative. However, despite these strong moments, the film remains visually rather wise in its daring. We would have liked to see a little more originality in the staging, particularly in the action sequences which, although effective, sometimes lack the craziness we might expect from such an eccentric film on paper.
That said, the film's charm lies above all in its characters and writing. The way Lucas Bernard integrates visual humor and dialogue at times recalls the satirical spirit of OSS 117, while remaining anchored in a lighter, more romantic atmosphere. Another striking scene is when Marco, ironizing about the army (" The army is always 'see the country, make friends '"), is bitingly replied to by Marianne: " The army is not a summer camp ", perfectly illustrating the comic tension between these two worlds.
À toute allure is a sparkling romantic comedy that successfully combines action and humor. Thanks to energetic performances by Pio Marmaï and Eye Haïdara in particular, and a screenplay that multiplies outlandish situations, the film stands out as refreshing entertainment. Although some sequences lack visual daring, the charm of the characters and the punchy dialogue more than make up for these few shortcomings. It's a hectic romantic escapade that will delight fans of romantic comedies, while offering a welcome touch of originality in the genre.
À toute all ure will particularly appeal to viewers looking for fast-paced, offbeat romantic comedies with a healthy dose of unusual situations and tasty dialogue.
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