No Cell Service

In a summer movie season marked by highly anticipated American blockbusters and endless franchises, director Édouard Pluvieux offers a breath of fresh air with No Cell Service, a family comedy set in the wilderness that eschews spectacle in favor of simplicity, humor, and a touch of childhood nostalgia. The plot of the film can be summed up in a few lines: a city family decides to spend a weekend in a remote cottage in the heart of the forest to reconnect with nature. But the trip quickly turns chaotic when two crooks, played by Gérard Jugnot and Maxime Gasteuil, sabotage the local cell tower, cutting off all contact with the outside world. That's when the couple's two children, Jonas and Gabi, take matters into their own hands to defend their territory and foil the plans of the two thugs. This starting point, which might seem anecdotal, actually hides a well-oiled mechanism, inherited from the great classics of youth cinema of the 80s and 90s, where the inventiveness of the youngest overturns the balance of power and restores adventure to its former glory.

The film draws openly on the collective imagination shaped by works such as Home Alone and The Goonies, with a resolutely French touch that gives it a tone that is both burlesque and warm. The duo of children, played by Théo Bertrand and Lily-Marlene Nau, embody a resourceful, inventive youth that is often more mature than the adults around them. The contrast between their boundless energy and the absurdity of the situations created by the adults provides effective comic relief, particularly thanks to a series of improvised traps in the forest that oscillate between clever DIY and deliberate visual gags. Gérard Jugnot, in a role that seems tailor-made for him, plays a villain who is both ridiculous and endearing, while Maxime Gasteuil plays the idiot sidekick with obvious delight. It's clear from the screen that the director has a real affection for these secondary characters, who are exaggerated but never dehumanized, reminiscent of cartoon villains: harmless in their dangerousness, comical in their clumsiness. The numerous references to the film Home Alone will bring back fond memories for many viewers.

What is surprising about No Cell Service is the way the film embraces its status as family entertainment without resorting to easy solutions. While the humor is clearly aimed at a young audience, with a few scatological jokes and exaggerated facial expressions, the film is saved by its lively pace and fluid direction, which doesn't try to overplay the action but makes it clear, dynamic, and always driven by an internal logic. Nature becomes a character in its own right, a playground but also a refuge, magnified by understated cinematography that captures the summer light filtering through the trees and gives the daytime scenes an enveloping warmth. This setting also allows the film to distill a subtext about our dependence on digital technology. The title is not just a gimmick: deprived of a network, each member of the family is forced to interact, to refocus on the present, and the children even come to use this absence of technology as a tactical advantage in their turf war. This commentary, never heavy-handed or moralizing, seeps naturally into the narrative and gives food for thought, especially for adult viewers accompanying their children.

However, not everything is perfect in this rural tale. Some of the acting choices, particularly among the adult supporting cast, border on excessive caricature, to the point of tipping certain scenes into awkward theatricality, notably with scenes featuring actor Bernard Farcy, which will remind many viewers of his role as Gérard Gibert in the Taxi film series. The film sometimes seems to hesitate between situational humor and repetitive comedy, which leads to some longueurs in the final act, where the twists and turns follow one another without always managing to maintain the same level of originality. Similarly, the ecological reflection sketched out through the symbolic presence of the Pyrenean bear and the destruction of relay antennas remains superficial, a thematic backdrop rather than a real statement. We would have liked to see this more committed side explored further, even if it meant sacrificing a few redundant chase scenes. Nevertheless, these flaws are minor in the grand scheme of things, as the film never pretends to be anything more than it is: a funny, lively adventure, perfectly calibrated for a joyful family viewing experience.

No Cell Service succeeds where many other productions of its kind fail: it speaks to children without treating them like idiots, and entertains adults without falling into heavy-handed nostalgia or condescending mockery. With a well-used economy of means, a solid cast, and a genuine desire to tell a simple but well-constructed story, director Édouard Pluvieux has created a comedy that leaves you smiling, carried by a duo of children we hope to see again very soon. Without revolutionizing the genre, this film reminds us that it is still possible to make families laugh and dream without superheroes, flashy special effects, or cynicism. And sometimes, that's all we ask for. A pleasant summer surprise to be enjoyed disconnected from the rest of the world, or almost, starting August 6, 2025, in all good theaters.

No Cell Service (Y a pas de réseau)
Directed by Edouard Pluvieux
Produced by Benjamin Demay, Mathieu Ageron, Maxime Delauney, Romain Rousseau
Written by Edouard Pluvieux, Olivier Ducray
Starring Gérard Jugnot, Maxime Gasteuil, Julien Pestel, Manon Azem, Roxane Barazzuol, Roman Angel, Bernard Farcy, Zabou Breitman
Music by Alexis Rault
Cinematography: Julien Hirsch
Edited by Maël Lenoir
Production companies: Las Palmeras, Nolita Cinéma, co-productions (M6 Films, TF1 Studio, Pathé, Logical Content Ventures, Elephant Story, Elephant Adventures)
Distributed by Pathé Films (France)
Release date: August 6, 2025 (France)
Running time: 80 minutes

Seen on June 8, 2025 at Gaumont Disney Village, Theater 10, seat A18

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