Under Paris

Review by Mark Woodring

The similarities to Jaws (minus the actual quality) in Under Paris cannot be denied.

It’s probably more apt to compare it to The Meg, actually.

**NOTE: this post may be updated with audio once we actually have the chance to talk about it. Until then, you can read Mark’s review below. Remember, though, you can listen to all our discussions of this and every other movie directly over on ACAST. Stay tuned.**

Under Paris - Review
Under Paris (Netflix)

104 Minutes, Rated TV-MA
Written by Yannick Dahan, Maud Heywant, Xavier Gens
Directed by Xavier Gens

Synopsis:

To save Paris from a bloodbath, a grieving scientist is forced to face her tragic past when a giant shark appears in the Seine.

 

 

A doomed scientific expedition that studies sharks discovers that they may have tagged an infant shark of a new variety. Disaster striked and all memebers of the team are killed in a frenzy, save for one, who lives with both survivor’s guilt and the loss of her husband.

Fast-forward a few years, and she is working in Paris as an aquarium docent, when the unthinkable happens: a renegade environmental group has discovered her old tracking system and is using it to protect sharks from poachers. When they locate the shark from the previous disaster has found her way into the Seine–and that a death may have resulted–she is called back into action by the local police.

One part environmental sermon, one part action movie, and all parts cheese, you’d think I was about to tell you that Under Paris is a waste of your time…

…but I’m not.

Sure, the CG is questionable at times.

Sure, the acting is sometimes over the top.

Yes, characters (mostly the environmentalists… accurate) often make stupid choices.

But the idea of sharks is always captivating to the imagination (see the Sharknado franchise), so the idea of a new breed of shark invading a major population center instead of an idyllic vacation spot can’t help but engender some good will on the part of the viewer.

I gave it a shot and found Under Paris to be fun, especially with the pompous Parisian equivalent of the mayor of Amity Island, intent of pulling off an event in the Seine which could catapult her to higher office, getting her comeuppance (as all pompous politicians should, frankly) at the end.

A great film? No.

A fun film? Sure.

Give it a whirl.

Under Paris is currently streaming on Netflix and stars Berenice Bejo, Nassim Lyes, Lea Leviant, Sandra Parfait, Aksel Unsten, Aurelia Petir, and Anne Marivin.

And remember, if the BEST thing you can say about a movie is that it’s “visually stunning,” then they’ve done something wrong.

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