Largo Winch: Le prix de l'argent

The first movie was (almost) faithful to the comics ,- almost" because one of the main characters was absent-the second was an original screenplay although snatches of comics stories appeared now and then ("L'heure Du Tigre").

The third installment is based on two comic books , "le prix de l'argent " and "la loi du dollar ", but,to put it mildly ,loosely ; the screenplay is muddled and complicated to a fault ,blending past and present ,and casting an American star again (Sharon Stone in the second episode) :here James Franco could have been an asset ,had he been given worthwhile material to work with ; on the other hand, I have an aversion to Clotilde Hesme,the queen of the feel -good French flick ("Diane a les épaules" "l'échappée belle") and as for me,her presence did not bode well .

This is essentially an action-packed movie , looking towards James Bond ,and desesperately trying to give a deep meaningful emotional dimension (model "skyfall"). The scenes filmed on location in Thailand are proportionately more palatable than the urban ones .And no Simon Ovronnaz !

Tomer Sisley is like that old bottle of wine you save for special occasions: it's aged, but it still stings the palate a bit. After twelve years of playing the corporate Yamakasi, the guy is still hanging in there-abs intact, ready to leap from a burning helicopter while delivering a one-liner. Props to him, especially since he does his own stunts, as if Bruce Wayne and Jean-Paul Belmondo got thrown into a sweaty blender.

Enter James Franco as the villain, but let's be honest: he's more "all-expenses-paid holiday in Burma" than "I'll haunt your nightmares." He hams it up like he's in an Austin Powers spoof, with zero subtlety. The result? A baddie who feels like a rejected Call of Duty DLC character. Honestly, even Wario would've brought more gravitas to the role.

The film starts strong, but the engine sputters quickly. A conspiracy here, a chase there, and suddenly Largo's become a mix of John McClane and a background extra from Fast & Furious. Everything feels recycled, chewed over, and spat out again. Plot twists? As predictable as the old "Oh no, he's dead-wait, never mind."

Sure, the action scenes are there. Things explode, people run and jump, but nothing that'll have you gripping your seat. Special mention to the airplane sequence, which looks so bad it could've been ripped from a PS2 cutscene. If Spielberg saw it, he'd demand an immediate refund. And those laughable CGI effects? They look like they came straight out of a summer intern project at The Asylum.

If you mix James Bond, Jason Bourne, and every 2000s action flick in a blender, you get this sequel: a deluge of clichés, an overhyped hero, and villains with all the credibility of a spam email. Even the dialogue feels microwaved. By the end, you start wondering if this isn't a parody that wandered off course.

Largo Winch: The Cost of Money is like a store-brand popsicle on a hot day: you know it's not great, but it's refreshing while it lasts. Tomer Sisley pulls his weight, but the movie is a lazy sequel, stuffed with shortcuts, that barely scrapes by as disposable entertainment. Watch it once, then forget it as soon as the credits roll.

Largo Winch is living with his son, away from all the limelight and is still feeling down for not able to protect his loved ones. His son gets kidnapped and Winch gets targeted by a mysterious individual, leading to his eventual arrest over murder charges. As Largo Winch's reputation takes a hit, he now has to team up with an social media influencer to escape from the jail and race against time to solve the mystery over the manipulation caused by the mystery man in order to free his son. What truth does Largo Winch uncover and will he be able to save his son, forms rest of the story.

I have been somewhat lenient to this franchise and definitely did enjoy the last two films. However, the third film turned out to be rather tedious due to the generic stuff. Probably the gap of 13 years took a direct toll and if the film had arrived last decade itself then I might have continued to enjoy it. Instead, the screenplay and wallowing Largo Winch got too repetitive. The action scenes didn't stand out and making James Franco into a template villain with a forced backstory, simply did not work for me. The final act too opts for convenient twists and serves as a build up for the next film. Overall, Largo Winch's charm is quite reduced here.

The new"Largo Winch" is a decent watch but falls short of being truly memorable. The film offers some intriguing plot points, but the storyline often feels predictable and relies heavily on familiar tropes. The action sequences are well-executed, though nothing groundbreaking for the genre. The performances are fine, but none of the actors truly stand out or bring unique depth to their characters. Visually, the film has its moments, but it lacks the finesse that could elevate it to a higher level. Overall, it's an average action-thriller - entertaining enough for a casual watch, but not something that leaves a lasting impression.