Ad Vitam

Rodolphe Lauga delivers a top-notch action movie that stands out in the genre. What makes French films so appealing compared to Hollywood blockbusters is their focus on realistic scripts, grounded action, and authentic characters, which result in true emotional depth and drama. These are the kinds of action films you want to watch because, unlike Marvel movies, you're not stuck watching the same superheroes in endless, exaggerated battles. In this film, the people, the situations, the locations, and the thrilling chases all feel incredibly lifelike, pulling you into the story and making you feel like you're right there with the characters. It's a refreshing change from the typical formulaic films where you're just watching the same A-list stars in the same predictable shootouts. This is an action movie with real substance-a film that no John Wick can quite match.

First movie of 2025...and it's a bit of a dud.

Firstly, a positive. There's some pretty cool action scenes here. I'm not familiar with French cinema but the main actor Guillaume Canet was great and really sold me on his tough guy persona. He really was the emotional core of the story, aside from just being an outright badass. The dude does everything : parkour, driving, martial arts....you name it!

However, "Ad Vitam" really struggled to hold my attention throughout its short run time, and just comes across as a cheaper and inferior version of the "Mission Impossible" series. The story didn't grip me at all. The majority of the film is one big flashback that doesn't even get to the main plot introduced at the start of the film until just over an hour in. For an action film, it's incredibly slow and plodding, and doesn't seem to have any momentum or pace until it suddenly ramps up in the last 30 minutes. It feels like a solid 40 minute pilot episode of a TV series stretched out to 95 minutes to be considered feature length.

Overall, it's not a film I'd recommend. It's typical of what you'd expect from a January Netflix film I guess!

You wouldn't have expected a role like this from the French actor Guillaume CANET until now, but from now on you'll have to talk about a French Tom CRUISE. In German-speaking countries, Guillaume CANET was known primarily for his role in THE BEACH (2000) with Leonardo Di CAPRIO in the lead role and as the first husband of the German actress Diane KRUGER.

In AD VITAM by Rodolphe LAUGA, CANET plays a former member of the French elite unit GIGN who, after his release, is drawn into a confusing game of intrigue with very bad guys. When his pregnant wife Leo (Stephane CAILLARD, known from CHEZ NOUS (2017) by Lucas BELVAUX) is kidnapped, Franck Lazareff finally becomes a one-man army who can hit, shoot and climb so much that even Mr. CRUISE would be jealous. Fortunately, the elite fighter also has some good colleagues (Nassim LYES from SOUS LA SEINE and Alexis MANENTI from LES MISERABLES) who rush to help with their powerful skills.

Of course, this film has some weaknesses, such as the miserably long flashbacks at the beginning of the film, but NETFLIX has provided a budget that makes such a well-illustrated action film possible in France. The fights and chases on the street and in the air are well done. Breathtaking images of Sacre-Coeur and the Versailles Palace Park included! The film also does full justice to the French PolAr tradition (film policier and Argot). It is a lot of fun to watch and has so far been quite successful on the global streaming service.

In a small role, there is also a reunion with Stephane RIDEAU (in the sequence in Sacre-Coeur), who became known in 1993 with ROSEAUX SAUVAGES.

Ad Vitam is an engaging French police action film. I don't have too much experience with French Action cinema but this is good by any action-drama standard. The lead here, and his wife, are members of the elite French Gendarme. When the film opens there is clearly some police corruption scandal which has endangered the life of his wife and unborn baby. There is some good fighting and martial arts in this one. The action is good. The drama and the police corruption story keep you engaged throughout. The acting is decent, although I watched the Dubbed into English version so it is a little harder to tell how decent.

Ad Vitam was for me and my wife a great ride hell.

The story took me on an emotional level mixed with suspense and lot of combat scenes.

It was interesting to watch inside the private life of the special forces GIGN of the French Gendarmes.

If you are looking for a fast paced movie with lot of action then this one will entertain you no doubt.

Netflix presented again another blockbuster that run already on number one of the international charts. Both leading actors Canet and Cortaillod delivered respectable top performance. Finally the director succeeded in making a good show time.

Congratulations to all the staff. It merita for this high value of entertainment a solid 7/10.

If you liked it see Sous la Seine.