El jaguar

While essential to establish characters and start the plot, the first 40 minutes linger a regrettably long time for an adventure-comedy that ultimately takes us to South America. Those early scenes in France also bear an air of exploitative othering, as the humor largely rides on the incongruity of shaman Wanu appearing in a great metropolis in only the minimal garb of his people. Add in outdated language that refers to Wanu and his tribe as "Indians" - though enjoyable, it's a somewhat inauspicious beginning for the movie.

Thankfully, even with such indelicacies, 'Le jaguar' is a good time, especially once the plot begins in earnest with the sojourn to the Amazon. The filming locations are absolutely gorgeous, and I admire the score composed by Vladimir Cosma, alternating between sweeping themes to complement the beauty, and more dramatic tones to pair with the action on the screen. What contributions are provided in terms of hair, makeup, and effects are quite suitable. Stunt work and choreography look great, where they are employed in more vigorous moments. While hardly revelatory, these aspects executed well and do much to build the more meaningful adventure-laden elements of the story.

That having been said - blemishes aside, the screenplay is pretty great. True, the character writing and dialogue aren't necessarily developed beyond what is necessary to serve the plot. Campana is knowledgeable, experienced, honorable, and unwilling to put up with nonsense; Perrin is ignorant, obnoxious, and unlikable; the villains are, well, villainous. But to be fair, with this particular blend of genres, more robust figures and lines aren't especially important. Moreover, even these rudimentary sketches are sufficient to round out excellent scene writing and a complete, coherent narrative that comprise the heart of 'Le jaguar.' As both writer and director, Francis Veber arranges shots and scenes that are marvelously well considered, low-key riveting, and even endearing, all while looking fantastic. The broad strokes of the plot are perhaps a little predictable, but with the feature being so well made and entertaining, does that really matter?

One can hardly discuss 'Le jaguar' without noting the cast. Even as the characterizations are slightly bereft on paper, the assembled actors have certainly proven their worth elsewhere, and here they embody the parts with all their skill to lend a gratifying sense of personality and depth. Jean Reno's poise and delivery make him the perfect choice for Campana, while the natural charm and grace Patricia Velásquez carries with her enlivens the supporting role of Maya. Danny Trejo, in a seemingly rare clean-shaven role, bears all the expected physicality of antagonist Kumare, while Gil Birmingham is duly imposing as one of Kumare's guards. Patrick Bruel I'm unfamiliar with, but he inhabits hapless, haughty Perrin to great comedic effect, ably navigating the character arc through its uneven shifts.

I began watching with no foreknowledge. I can't say the movie is perfect; especially within the first 40 minutes, it has readily apparent faults, and dabbling with the "white savior" trope is also deeply unfortunate. But these don't substantially dampen the value of what 'Le jaguar' otherwise represents. Rough edges aside, this is a fun, engaging adventure film, with light comedy scattered throughout. Strong scene writing, direction, and a great cast make up for whatever shortcomings may present, and the result is a swell movie that's worth checking out if you have the opportunity.