Recovering after watching The Pentaverate, I was looking to get my hands on something entertaining to stream. Though it was part of my monthly schedule, The Takedown came as a relief considering its spicy genre.

The French movie promises to be high on action and adventure while delivering some funny moments to tickle your muscles. Does it live up to the expectations? Well, read on to find out.

The Takedown Review Summary

With a blend of light-hearted moments and high-octane action sequences, The Takedown manages to remain relevant throughout its length. However, a few things do go wrong for the film in terms of characterization. Keep reading my The Takedown review for a detailed analysis.

The Takedown Synopsis

Directed by Louis Leterrier, The Takedown stars Omar Sy (Ousmane), Laurent Lafitte (Francois), and Izia Higeline (Alice) in lead roles.

Two old mates, Ousmane and Francois, are forced to team up after ages to investigate a murder in a divided French town. Their contrasting personalities pose a hurdle in getting to the end of a bigger mystery. Will they be able to solve the case or not is what the story uncovers in a fun and exciting way.

What Works for The Takedown?

Action

For good, The Takedown doesn’t lack in astonishing action scenes. Unless you compare it with other high-end flicks, the film has near-perfect execution of fights, both armed and one-to-one.

Most of the physical brawls are assigned to Omar Sy, and their implementation is satisfactory. Moreover, nothing superficial is added to the combats, maintaining rawness.

Performances

The last time I saw Omar Sy perform on screen was in Lupin. The well-built actor delivers a not-so-outstanding performance this time around, but he does justice to the role. His task was to remain casual and not be too intense, which he does perfectly.

You might wonder why I called it a not-so-outstanding act; it is because the expectations from good actors ascend after each of their performances. I feel Omar can create a charming persona around him that can accentuate a film even if the plot is not up to the mark.

I see him as an actor whose one glimpse might be enough to attract thundering applause from moviegoers. However, that’s possible only if Omar adds a touch of his own to the person he is playing on-screen.

In The Takedown, the French actor does everything right according to what is assigned to him, but a bit more of individual style would have made Ousmane a character to remember.

Laurent Lafitte produces a contained act where he remains honest to the roots of the character. Like Adal Ramones from 40 Years Young, Lafitte has been tasked to keep humor afloat. Most importantly, his suppressed expressions take you for a ride.

Izia Higelin as Alice is the sweet but fiery factor of The Takedown. Though she appears casual at first sight, you gradually understand why her presence makes a difference. Everyone else is damn good in this action entertainer.

Chase Sequences

Owing to its genre, The Takedown has multiple chase sequences that are shot well, keeping in mind both aesthetics and screenplay. They add to the thrill by maintaining the pace of the story.

Twists and Turns

The Takedown does a pretty good job when it comes to executing the twists and turns. I won’t say you would be all agog while watching it, but you would enjoy it as the plot pans out, eventually. The makers don’t force an element into the story just to play with your curiosity. Instead, they go with the flow to make things look seamless.

Funny

Yes, I found The Takedown to be funny. It has intelligent humor and seeks your attention for a burst of laughter. But that doesn’t mean there are no situational comic scenes. However, the fun side of the film has a restricted presence so that the focus remains on the main plot.

Duration

With a run time of only 2 hours, The Takedown is a steal if you want to take a break from your hectic schedule. I will give you an insight since I come from India. Our films are hardly this short, which is why I am starting to develop a strong liking for western cinema.

What Doesn’t Work for The Takedown?

Cliched Characterization

Since the concept of cop duos has been there for ages, the way The Takedown’s plot is designed feels banal. I am not saying it’s uninteresting, but you think the makers could have added more novelty to the characters.

When there are two cops, we mostly have one of them as more overpowering than the other. While one has prowess in romancing, the other is not as good at it. This has been the case for a long time. Maybe, we need to add newness to friendly characters working in the same profession.

I am not saying to not have diversity, but a bit more work on traits can make a significant difference for ambitious low-budget films. Moreover, I completely understand that The Takedown’s primary focus is on two mismatched officers working together. But a tweak apart from the usual would have made things more exciting.

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