The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec (2010) review

The comparisons to Indiana Jones and Amelie have come thick and fast for Luc Besson’s first foray into directing for five years, The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec. Whilst Adele Blanc-Sec doesn’t reach either of these lofty expectations, it does carve itself its own little niche, which it trundles along to with a spring in its step and a tongue in its cheek.

Playing as an adaptation of Jacques Tardi’s comic adventure series, Adele Blanc-Sec takes its cues from both ‘Adele et la Bete’ and ‘Momies en Folie’. For the uninitiated, the plot boils down elements from both books and features amongst others, a revived pterodactyl, a whole entourage of polite Egyptian mummies and a freak tennis accident you’re unlikely to see on the courts of Wimbledon this summer.

Keeping the tone firmly set to slapstick, Besson keeps the whole parade going at a brisk pace and, for the most part, these comic (in both senses of the word) adventures are fast, funny and refreshingly light-hearted. The Egyptian mummies, in particular, are a joy to watch, with their mild-mannered politeness and sharp efficiency providing oodles of comic meat for Besson to sink his teeth into. If only the same could be said for Adele Blanc-Sec’s pterodactyl sub-plot, which errs too much on the side of chaotic absurdity, rendering it all a bit juvenile.

It all balances out though, and with a little more substance to go with its Gallic style, Adele Blanc-Sec could have been something great. As it is, it’s a highly entertaining, strongly directed piece of Saturday afternoon fluff.

Whilst not quite as viscerally exciting as Indy, or as charmingly offbeat as Amelie, Adele is still a welcome change of pace, and something of an unexpected surprise. With a sparky central performance from Louise Bourgoin, an assured lightness of touch from Besson and a winning combination of comedy, fantasy and adventure, Adele Blanc-Sec is a lively and entertaining caper across Paris and Egypt. Indiana Jones in petticoats, if you will.