French lover

Sometimes there are films that seem to have been conceived by an algorithm, so predictable are their mechanics and so glaring is their lack of inspiration. French Lover, directed by Nina Rives and co-written with Hugo Gélin and Noémie Saglio, unfortunately falls into this category. Behind the enticing poster, with a star like Omar Sy in the role of Abel Camara and a talented actress like Sara Giraudeau as his romantic partner, the viewer discovers a story that never rises above cliché, recycling situations we've seen a thousand times without ever elevating them. The promise of a romantic comedy rooted in the star system quickly reduces to a succession of conventional scenes, so predictable that they become mechanical.

Where we expected a modern twist or a real reflection on the gap between celebrity and normality, French Lover offers only a pale and timid variation. Nina Rives' direction, far from bringing a signature style, merely strings together flat shots, amplified by Renaud Chassaing's photography, which sorely lacks inspiration. Valérie Deseine's editing further accentuates the impression of stretching: two interminable hours in which the plot is diluted for lack of any real rhythm. Guillaume Ferran's music, which could have brought additional identity or inspiration, merely accompanies without ever surprising, reinforcing the feeling of a smooth and soulless production.

Even the actors, who are used to commanding the screen, seem trapped in a script that offers them no substance. Omar Sy, usually charismatic, appears confined to a caricatured role as a star incapable of simple gestures, and this lack of nuance quickly becomes irritating. Opposite him, Sara Giraudeau is condemned to play the eternal “ordinary girl” who endures, forgives, and fades into the background. Their duo sorely lacks chemistry, and the few attempts at more sincere dialogue fall flat, crushed by lines calibrated for the trailer rather than for the heart. The secondary characters are hardly any more developed: functional silhouettes who cross the screen without leaving a trace.

The major problem with French Lover is not only its predictability, but its inability to create any authentic emotion. We don't laugh, we don't feel excited, and we quickly become annoyed by this succession of artificial misunderstandings and grand romantic gestures that are thrown in without any logic. The ending, which is supposed to be moving with its gesture of public reconciliation, rings all the more false because there is no dramatic build-up to prepare us for it. Everything seems tacked on, as if the checklist of clichés from international rom-coms destined for Netflix had been mechanically ticked off.

Leaving the theater, frustration prevails. One thinks that this cast, this budget, and these talents combined could have given rise to a funny, vibrant, or at least sincere work. Instead, French Lover is just an empty shell, a formulaic product that bores more than it charms. With such a poor storyline and such inertia in its form, it's difficult to give it more than a bad rating, saved only by the presence of actors who deserve much better.

French Lover
Directed by Nina Rives
Written by Hugo Gélin, Nina Rives, Noémie Saglio
Produced by Lionel Uzan, Hugo Gélin, and Omar Sy
Starring Omar Sy, Sara Giraudeau, Alban Ivanov, Pascale Arbillot, Agnès Hurstel, Xavier Lacaille, Cindy Bruna, Amaury de Crayencour, Isabelle Candelier, Antoine Chappey, Jean Franco, Camille Lavabre, Alexandre Kominek, Julien Santini, Sébastien Castro, Claudia Bacos, Baya Rehaz, Isabelle Vitari, Patrice Melennec, Guillaume Mélanie, Cédric Moreau, Hugo Gélin, Ruben Alves, Jeanne Bournaud, Frédéric Fix, Jade Vinot-Mony, Rose Michel Tastet
Cinematography: Renaud Chassaing
Edited by Valérie Deseine
Music by Guillaume Ferran
Production companies: Zazi Films, Federation Studio France, and Korokoro Productions
Distributed by Netflix (France, United States)
Release dates: September 26, 2025
Running time: 120 minutes

Seen on September 26, 2025 (Netflix)

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