I do not agree with the "I-was-let-down" consensus. Yes, the film may boast a copy-paste procedure sometimes (watch esp. the opening credits, but it is also hard to miss the more malevolently mixed cultural references), but it is also difficult not to notice the palpable changes: the comic strip tongue-in-cheek tone is still there, but it is subdued in favor of a more, if not elaborate, thoughtful structure: political seriousness is taken into account, and at the moment you would say it can't get any cheesier the way the script takes itself seriously, then you get a delicious line by one of the two male leads and poetic (well, why not?) justice is restored. It is actually more menacing than it may seem, especially towards the ridiculing portrait of the (liberal-democratic) president, and various not-so-hidden agendas. People who complain for less action, should park their hyperactivity here, and pay attention to the delicious dialogue between Belle and Raffaelli: only the french can make their heroes bond without to much emphasis on buffness, make them talk like philosophy graduates, make sense and embark on action just after the right amount of talking. The only thing I thought disappointing was, although this time the producer and the director get it right and don't serve us the parkour choreographies in the first ten minutes, that the physical urban ballet was "enhanced" by editing and an on-the-comic-side scale: that was one point that deprived the film of its bullseye physical charm (I am afraid that the two actors being now in their mid-thirties won't try again any of the athletics without digital crutches). Watch it though for the delicious pieces of dialogue between the leads: I am almost tempted to shout "Descartes lives and kicks ass!", but I can surely say that such a concoction of communicative male bonding, comic delicacies and animated political commentary makes me want to see it again.
Review of District 13: Ultimatum
