Verdict
Summary
A classy action / comedy from director Patrice Laconte that unites two legendary French leading superstars of their time, Half a Chance feels very “high concept,” but it’s also a little too similar to Les Comperes, the French comedy that was later remade as Father’s Day. With obviously a big budget with explosions, shootouts, helicopter rescues, and car chases, this is a fun caper-style action / comedy, but there’s still something missing from the whole formula … perhaps a bit more chemistry amongst the three leads is needed.
Plot:
A cute thief gets out of jail and connects with two older men who might be her father, which is good timing because the mob is after her, and maybe the two-maybe-dads can help her out.
Review:
Alice (Vanessa Paradis who was in her mid-20s here but looks like she’s just a kid) gets out of prison for car theft, and she steals another car right away (a Porsche), but it’s got 50 million in cash in the trunk. This does not bode well because the Russian mafia in France is intent on procuring that cash, which means there’s a hunt on for whoever stole it. Not yet realizing what she’s got, Alice shows up unannounced on the doorstep of two older gentlemen who each might be her father. First, is Leo (Jean-Paul Belmondo), a former commando who has retired and lives a comfortable life selling luxury vehicles. Next, there’s suave “bon vivant” jewel thief Julien (Alain Delon) who clashes with Leo at first when Alice brings them together, and both men who are single and without children really take to this plucky car thief who sort of challenges them to be the best men they can be to prove that they can be her father. When the Russian mob and police detectives pick up Alice’s trail, she’ll need to rely on these two cool old-timer badasses to get her out of a very bad situation when she’s kidnapped, and the action is going heat up when they come after her.
A classy action / comedy from director Patrice Laconte that unites two legendary French leading superstars of their time, Half a Chance feels very “high concept,” but it’s also a little too similar to Les Comperes, the French comedy that was later remade as Father’s Day. With obviously a big budget with explosions, shootouts, helicopter rescues, and car chases, this is a fun caper-style action / comedy, but there’s still something missing from the whole formula … perhaps a bit more chemistry amongst the three leads is needed. Paradis seems much too young and inexperienced acting alongside her two co-stars, but maybe it’s just me? Alexandre Desplat did the compelling score.
Kino Lorber has just released a Blu-ray edition for Half a Chance, and the 2K restoration shines. The disc comes with a new audio commentary by three film historians, and the trailer, as well as a slipcover.
