Orphans: A Review of the New Action Film

Orphans, currently available on Netflix, showcases Olivier Schneider stepping into the director’s role for his second action film, following years of experience as a stuntman and coordinator in the U.S. His new venture, GT Max, is in the pipeline. Schneider collaborates with star Alban Lenoir, known for Lost Bullet, in a story featuring two rivals, played by Lenoir and Dali Bensala, who are brought back together by unforeseen events. The real question remains: will their reunion lead to an exciting blend of action, or settle into a predictable routine of chase scenes and shootouts?

Orphans: Stream or Skip?

Key Points: Leila, portrayed by Sonia Faidi, is a 17-year-old fencer with little regard for authority. When she feels the referee is biased during a match, she doesn’t hold back, even striking him with a fencing pole. This incident foreshadows the chaos ahead. Later, a tense ride home takes a dangerous turn when a neon green car careens towards them. In the aftermath, Leila escapes the wreck, only to see a man observing the scene before she commandeers the green car and speeds off.

At the hospital, Leila finds her mother, Sophia, in a coma. Fanny, the orphanage owner, tries to console her. Meanwhile, things get interesting when Gabrielle (Lenore) encounters Idris (Bensara) just as an elevator door is about to close. We notice that Gabrielle is a dedicated police officer and military veteran, while Idris has strayed into a life of crime. Their complicated history spans a childhood spent in an orphanage, carrying an unresolved grudge over their shared love from Sophia. But then tragedy strikes, leaving Leila without her mother and her father now a distant memory.

Returning to the orphanage, Leila discovers a newspaper image of Cristina Rovelli (Suzanne Clement), a significant figure with a link to the neon green car. This leads Leila to take matters into her own hands by sneaking onto Rovelli’s estate and confronting her troubled son, Matthias (Guillaume Souberian), who struggles with his own demons. Matthias initially wanted to report the accident, but his mother insisted on keeping it hush-hush. Consequently, Leila’s journey entangles her with Gabrielle and Idris, leading to some sharp dialogue, recollections of their father, and plenty of explosive action.

What’s the Vibe? Orphans leans into the buddy action genre, blending elements of comedy with serious undertones, akin to films like Lethal Weapon or Tango and Cash. However, it doesn’t quite reach the extravagant heights of productions like John Wick or Atomic Blonde.

Standout Performances: Bensala and Lenore don’t quite capture the magic of their iconic predecessors, but Faidi certainly injects a youthful vibrancy into the film.

Sex and Skin: None to speak of.

Overall Impressions: Orphans comes in at a 51% watchable and 49% forgettable. It teeters on the edge, presenting a narrative that, while not groundbreaking, still manages to entertain, especially among other Netflix offerings that don’t always aim for high art. The film struggles with inconsistent tone, oscillating between serious themes like suicide and lighter moments, resulting in a somewhat diluted experience. The comedic and dramatic elements lack the impact they could have had.

Still, Schneider’s careful planning and execution of action sequences, often emphasizing practical effects, makes for an entertaining watch. While nothing stands out as exceptional, the final act ramps up the excitement with car chases and gunfights, culminating in a confrontation with Rovelli’s formidable head of security. The film could enhance its tonal balance along with character depth and comedic moments to elevate it beyond just a standard action flick, yet it manages to deliver a fun 95 minutes.

Final Verdict: Orphans is a film where you dive in, get involved, and emerge with a bit of entertainment. Definitely worth a stream.