THE SECOND ACT

France | DCP | 2024 | 80 min. | French with English subtitles
Director: Quentin Dupieux
Cast: Léa Seydoux, Vincent Lindon, Louis Garrel

En route to meet his clingy girlfriend’s father, David tries to convince his dim friend Willy to swoop in and take her off his hands. But the plan quickly takes a back seat as the actors break the fourth wall to grouse, flirt, threaten to cancel each other, and try to get cast in a better movie. Featuring a quartet of A-list French stars spoofing their own images, Quentin Dupieux’s meta-movie also pokes fun at the absurdity of AI with hilarious irreverence. The Second Act was the Opening Night selection for the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. (MK)