Guillaume Canet Anchors the Chase: Ad Vitam Review

This Ad Vitam review starts with the film's best asset: Guillaume Canet, who plays a haunted former agent with real physical conviction. Rodolphe Lauga's French action thriller runs a lean 97 minutes, with a tense opening and plenty of grit. The script is less sure of itself than the stunt work.

Ad Vitam Review: The Story So Far (No Spoilers)

The Ad Vitam plot begins at home. Franck Lazareff (Canet), a former elite agent, and his pregnant wife are attacked by armed intruders. That sets off a deadly manhunt that drags Franck back toward the past he tried to leave behind.

Lauga, who co-wrote the script with Canet, opens fast and doesn't waste time on explanation. The film then shifts into a story about training, loyalty and old debts. Fans of the action genre will recognize the shape of it, and the film works best when it sticks to it.

What Works in Ad Vitam

The opening home invasion is the highlight. It is tense, frightening and staged with a sense of real danger rather than slick spectacle. You feel how little room Franck has to act.

The action stays grounded throughout. Practical stunts and close-quarters fighting make the violence feel physical, closer to European crime cinema than a Hollywood blockbuster. The film also gives a convincing sense of the discipline behind elite French tactical training.

A few strengths stand out:

• A brutal, believable opening sequence

• Practical stunt work with real weight

• A short runtime that keeps the pace moving

Ad Vitam Cast and Performances

The Ad Vitam cast is led by Canet, who gives Franck a raw, tired edge. He plays him as a man running on instinct and guilt rather than a polished action hero. That choice keeps the film believable even when the plot strains.

Alexis Manenti plays Nico, Stéphane Caillard plays Leo, and Nassim Lyes plays Ben. Zita Hanrot appears as Manon and Johan Heldenbergh as Vanaken. The ensemble is solid, and the easy camaraderie between the men feels lived-in, though the script doesn't always give the supporting players enough to do.

Where Ad Vitam Stumbles

The main problem is balance. Audience reviews note that a long stretch of friendly banter between colleagues eats into the running time. Those scenes build warmth but slow the momentum the opening creates.

The central conspiracy is the other weak spot. The motives behind the manhunt strain belief, and the film asks you to accept a lot about how far some officials would go. The result is a thriller that feels shorter than it is, with a final stretch that arrives before the drama has fully earned it.

If you like this kind of story, our thriller reviews cover more films with similar ideas, and some handle plot logic with a surer hand.

Is Ad Vitam Worth Watching?

Yes, if you want a lean, physical French thriller and can forgive a shaky script. It is a decent watch rather than a standout. Audience scores on TMDB sit at 6.2 out of 10, and that feels about right.

Canet's performance and the strong action set pieces carry the film. The uneven pacing and the far-fetched conspiracy keep it from the top tier of the genre. Check the Ad Vitam page on IMDb for more details on the production. Our drama reviews have further picks if you want something with more emotional depth.

Who Will Enjoy Ad Vitam

• Fans of gritty French action and crime thrillers

• Viewers who like grounded stunts over CGI spectacle

• Anyone who wants to see Guillaume Canet in a physical lead role