Angel-A

Comedy, Fantasy, Romance

Serge Riaboukine	Pedro
Jamel Debbouze	André
Gilbert Melki	Franck
Rie Rasmussen	Angel-A
Akim Chir	Le chef des malfrats
Eric Balliet	Garde du corps Franck
Loïc Pora	Le malfrat #2
Venus Boone	La mère d'Angela
Jérôme Guesdon	Le malfrat #3
Michel Bellot	Le planton US
Michel Chesneau	Le flic commissariat
Olivier Claverie	Le sécrétaire US
Solange Milhaud	La femme de Saint-Lazare
Laurent Jumeaucourt	Le dragueur
Franck-Olivier Bonnet	Le dernier client
Akim Colour	Le chef des malfrats
Tonio Descanvelle	Client Angela 2
Grigori Manukov	Le serveur roumain
Alain Zef	Le sommelier
Jean-Marc Montalto	Le réceptionniste

Director	Luc Besson
Producer	Luc Besson
Writer	Luc Besson

It's been some time some French director Luc Besson stepped behind the camera. And truthfully, Angel-A, good as it is, is a little underwhelming, particularly when you see that Besson's curriculum vitae includes Leon, The Big Blue and The Fifth Element.

Still, that's not to say that Angel-A is a film without merit. Quite the contrary, in fact, as this simple, diverting tale has plenty in its corner. Andre, played by Jamel Debbouze, is just about to end his life. When we meet him, he's heavily in debt and he chooses to drown himself in the River Seine. Yet he's saved by the mysterious Angel-A of the film's title (played by Rie Rasmussen), and she offers to help Andre pull through his current problems. Thus, the stage is set for a pleasant, engaging mix of comedy, drama and a dose of romance, made all the stronger by its likeable lead actors.

While Angel-A is undoubtedly lacking the ambition of some of Besson's earlier work, it's a film that's hard not like. It's beautifully shot, tightly put together and thrives on its ultimate simplicity. It won't be a dish to everyone's taste, but it's nonetheless likely to reward the majority who are tempted to give it a spin. --Jon Foster