Gone are the days when comic book movies were marked down, but here’s a comedy to replace all of the legacy hits – Superwho? has just arrived to capture the enemy, and to find his identity (last but not least). This fantasy-power combo suits him well, and we needed this refreshing movie – as did the Informants (in the HBO Max series) when they bought tickets for The Cat City somewhen in Budapest.

 

Some of us may have dreamed of getting the best role (or job), but there would never be a ‘reality flash’ that we are the superhero (superwho) on the highway of the world, trying to smash all of the members of the enemy gang.

Cedric (Philippe Lacheau), a burnt-out but still handsome actor, gets into a car accident, and from there, like a bolt of lightning, he finds his new identity, considering himself a superhero – and his mission is now to save his beautiful (but fictional) wife. It’s hard for him to put together the reality with fake mosaic pieces of memory. Meanwhile, a few bad boys show up who need observation and control by super-anyone.

The actor’s brothers, by the way, are either very tough or very beat up. They go for help before the vigilante (and arbitrary) 1 person hero-staff wreaks havoc on the other half of town. As in a comedy, they beat each other where they stand – making for a dynamic production with plenty of demanding flight and epic scenes. The film takes itself seriously, and the humor too. We were torn by the stuck-in laughter of other viewers.

 

 

Superwho likes it in french way…

 

French films are usually known for being demanding and original. If something is not original, it is because it takes a different approach to a story, genre, or comedy itself. The budget was seemingly smaller than in Hollywood, but it still brings the action very well. For me, the first few minutes of the film started a bit eco-mode (slow and cheap), but even there I just missed some punchy opening. But we get that double, if not triple, at the end.

Almost every revenger has its freakier counterpart, but appearances can be deceiving – and against real weapons, of course, you are allowed to use some sleeping gas or ‘tow hooks’. Cedric is subconsciously motivated (apart from beating up bad guys) by a desire to prove himself within the family and to keep his father healthy. As long as he could remember his policeman father, he always wanted to make his ancestor proud – but instead it usually took the sergeant’s protection to keep the accidental pranks from turning into an inmate. The latter character is played by a familiar (family) face, Jean-Hugues Anglade.

 

 

It’s my life, and she’s my wife

 

The amnesiac superhero’s character has reached a new level of morality, because sometimes the best cure is oblivion. She’s more heroic, more observant – though still mostly a menace to the public, especially from the point of view of the city’s notorious bank robbers – who are also being pursued by her father, who is about to retire.

Beating up the police is not one of his merits, but let’s not be too harsh, he is not a super WHO organization member. Memories are slow to recover, but he’s found a new target to fight for. We won’t say any more than that, but she’s a lovely, cute lady – who is worth the care (& car).

The actor who plays her sister (Élodie Fontan) is also in her element and her prime, reminiscent of Mortal Combat’s Sonja Blade. And his movements and outfit are deja vu. I suppose there are no coincidences, this could be a deliberate spice in the story. The film presents a conscious flick about phlegmatic directors (usually ‘director’ is considered a buzzword – even in the dubbing profession, I’ve experienced a few examples first hand), and the boorish senior-actor prototype. Bad characters have no depth, they are just rushing and russians too.

 

 

Ironic-man overloaded…

 

This movie is directed by Philippe Lacheau (e.g. the writer of Babysitting 1-2), alias superwho (the protagonist!) and he spiced the story with social critique too. The hypocrisy of climate protection, a dash of racism, the protocol of covid-infection all get their satirical moments, and there are parody screens to the sponsor-product-laden movies too – at the right time and with the right catharsis. There are a few elements that seems to be surreal, but this epic genre can handle that. Be careful on the highways, though, because the devil can easily be made to work overtime.

I usually love movies with superhero, superwho, or super anyone. However, if you consider them too futuristic, action-packed, grisly, then mix them with comedy – You will receive this epic eclecticism. The jokes are almost corny in places, but they don’t hit the full cretin’s level (the whole room was laughing through the movie!). For us, this is what brought the (spotlight) into the evening with a silhouette of Bat-Who-Man.

-Jay P. Sonix-